The Swiss national football team traveled to the United States on Tuesday, departing for the World Cup without striker Breel Embolo. Embolo’s absence followed the unexpected revocation of his ESTA, the automated system used to determine entry eligibility for U.S. visitors.
This issue surfaced shortly before the team’s departure for the major tournament. The revocation of Embolo’s ESTA is linked to a definitive ruling issued by a Swiss court concerning an incident that took place in Basel in 2018. The 29-year-old striker, who has represented Switzerland in both the 2018 and 2022 World Cup tournaments, has accumulated 23 goals in 85 appearances for the national squad.
In 2023, the French player, who plays for Stade Rennais, faced charges related to multiple threats. Following the proceedings, he was issued a fine accompanied by a suspended sentence. His previous season saw him contribute eight goals across 31 matches for his club.
The incident surrounding the ESTA review created a notable absence for the squad just before their participation in the world stage.
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