Scotland fan's US World Cup visa revoked one hour before departure
Michael Wright, a Scottish football fan, had his ESTA visa status revoked approximately one hour before his scheduled flight to the US World Cup on June 10, with the status changing from "approved" to "travel not authorized" without explanation. Wright had applied for the permit in March and was traveling from Australia to watch Scotland's group stage matches. The incident is part of a broader pattern of ESTA denials affecting multiple World Cup attendees, attributed by US officials to stricter immigration enforcement.
Michael Wright, a Scotland supporter living in Australia, discovered his Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) had been revoked just one hour before his departure from Manchester Airport for the FIFA World Cup in the US. His visa status shifted from "approved" to "pending" to "travel not authorized" within hours, with no explanation provided by US authorities. Wright had applied for the permit in March and was planning a 30th birthday trip with his brother to watch Scotland play Haiti and Morocco. The incident is not isolated; dozens of other fans reported similar last-minute ESTA status changes in the days before the World Cup began on June 10. US officials, including an acting assistant secretary of Homeland Security, attributed the stricter ESTA approvals to enhanced immigration law enforcement under the Trump administration, stating that applications are "continuously vetted against law enforcement and security databases."
What's missing
The specific criteria or triggers that caused Wright's ESTA status to change from approved to revoked are not disclosed by either source, and neither outlet reports whether Wright received any formal notification or appeal process information from US authorities.
What different sources said
- BBC Top StoriesCenter
Scotland fan has US visa revoked an hour before flying to World Cup
- NewsweekCenter
US Visa Revoked for World Cup Attendee One Hour Before Flight
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