Jamaican team has visas problem for 10 players ahead of LA Galaxy trip
CONCACAF are working with Jamaican team Mount Pleasant after 10 of their players had been unable to acquire visas for the membership’s Champions Cup match in opposition to MLS team LA Galaxy on (*10*).
The governing physique for soccer in North America, Central America and the Caribbean was made conscious of the scenario and is now making an attempt to resolve the problems along side Mount Pleasant.
The Jamaican Premier League facet has six Haitian players in its squad, with Haiti being one of the 19 international locations whose residents have been banned from getting into the United States by President Donald Tump.
Mount Pleasant sources, talking anonymously to guard relationships, mentioned a handful of Jamaican players have additionally had their visas rejected.
Although some of the players have had their visas denied, generally the primary concern has been delays, comparable to some appointments not being scheduled till after Wednesday’s fixture.
This comes at a time when one of the largest storylines relating to this summer season’s World Cup — which is being collectively hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico — is across the Trump administration imposing journey bans to the United States.
Since Trump returned to the White House in January 2025, the US has banned nationals from designated international locations, together with 4 international locations — Haiti, Iran, Senegal and Ivory Coast — which have certified for the World Cup.
There are exemptions for athletes, assist workers and instant kin of rivals because the US authorities can grant entry to the nation for a serious occasion, such because the World Cup, Olympics or different main sporting occasions.
Those exemptions, nevertheless, don’t prolong to touring supporters.
Paul Christie, Mount Pleasant’s sporting director, advised the Jamaica Observer: “We don’t want to just show up for the game, we want to be able to compete. But we are not being given the opportunity to be at our best.”
Christie additionally added that as a consequence of the visas being denied, Theodore Whitmore, the membership’s head coach, should depend upon “seven or eight academy kids” to make up the numbers.
The Champions Cup is CONCACAF’s signature membership event and Mount Pleasant and LA Galaxy are assembly within the spherical of 16.
Mount Pleasant will host the second match in Kingston, Jamaica, on March 19.
