Scotland fan's US World Cup visa revoked one hour before departure
Scottish football fan Michael Wright had his US Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) revoked just one hour before his flight from Manchester Airport, leaving him stranded and thousands of pounds out of pocket ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Wright is among dozens of Scotland supporters who have reported sudden ESTA status changes in the days surrounding the tournament's opening, with US authorities citing continuous vetting under the Visa Waiver Program. The disruptions highlight growing uncertainty around last-minute travel authorization decisions under the Trump administration's stricter immigration enforcement, even for fans who secured approval months in advance.
Michael Wright, a Greenock native living in Australia, had applied for his ESTA in March and planned a 30th birthday trip to watch Scotland's group-stage matches against Haiti, Morocco, and Brazil, but saw his status flip from 'approved' to 'pending' to 'travel not authorised' just an hour before departure at Manchester Airport. He estimates the ordeal has cost him between £4,500 and £5,000, with only match ticket refunds likely recoverable. US Department of Homeland Security officials stated that ESTA applications are 'continuously vetted against law enforcement and security databases' and that failure to disclose criminal history can result in revocation, though no specific reason was given in Wright's case. Scotland's First Minister John Swinney said he had contacted US officials and would do 'all I can to help' those affected, while the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office encouraged applicants to follow US Embassy guidance. Some affected fans have been directed to make emergency trips to the US Consulate in Belfast to seek visa approval. Meanwhile, other Scotland supporters who did successfully travel to Boston were reported to have consumed an entire flight's beer supply en route, with fans arriving in kilts at Logan International Airport ahead of Scotland's opening match against Haiti on Saturday. Scotland's World Cup campaign — their first since 1998 — begins at Boston Stadium (Gillette Stadium), where statistical models give them a 59% chance of victory over Haiti.
How coverage differed
BBC and Newsweek covered the ESTA revocation story with a focus on the human impact and systemic concerns about transparency, presenting Wright's case sympathetically and questioning the predictability of the US vetting process. The New York Post and Fox News largely framed their World Cup coverage around the lighter, celebratory angle of Scottish fans drinking their flight dry, mentioning visa issues only briefly and without critical scrutiny of US policy.
What different sources said
- BBC Top StoriesCenter
'Absolutely buzzing': Scotland fans arrive on US soil
- NewsweekCenter
US Visa Revoked for World Cup Attendee One Hour Before Flight
- New York PostRight
Drunken Scots arrive in Boston to party ahead of Haiti-Scoland World Cup match: ‘We ran out of beer’
- Fox NewsRight
Scottish fans drank every beer on their plane before landing in Boston ahead of World Cup opener
- Opta AnalystCenter
Haiti vs Scotland Prediction: World Cup 2026 Match Preview
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