Scotland Fan Missing World Cup Opener Says Trump Should 'Return the Hospitality'
Summary
A Scottish soccer fan, Kenny Smith, had his U.S. travel authorization revoked days before the 2026 FIFA World Cup opener, preventing him from attending Scotland’s first match since 1998. Several other Scottish fans faced similar issues, prompting intervention from Scotland’s First Minister to help resolve the travel problems.Key Facts
- Kenny Smith from Scotland had his U.S. travel approval (ESTA) changed to “Travel Not Authorized” just days before his trip.
- Smith’s ESTA was previously approved and valid until 2027 but was revoked without explanation.
- Others in the Scottish fan group, known as the “Tartan Army,” also had their U.S. travel permissions revoked.
- Scotland’s First Minister, John Swinney, contacted U.S. officials to try to fix the issue.
- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said stricter rules on travel authorizations have been enforced under President Trump’s administration.
- Reasons for denying ESTA include criminal history or security concerns, but Smith reports he has no criminal record.
- Smith and other affected fans had to start costly, time-consuming visa applications instead.
- Smith’s local Member of Parliament helped speed up his visa appointment, but he will miss the opening game.
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