Visa Denial Sidelines Costa From Club World Cup

Ayrton Costa will miss the Club World Cup with Boca Juniors after the United States officially denied his visa application. As reported by TyC Sports, the center-back has a pending probation stemming from a 2018 attempted robbery case, and U.S. authorities consider the matter unresolved. Despite multiple attempts—including a third embassy interview—Costa was informed by email on Thursday that he would not be granted entry.

Boca are already training in Miami under manager Miguel Ángel Russo ahead of their tournament debut on Monday. Club president Juan Román Riquelme is expected to join the squad soon, accompanied by newcomers Malcom Braida and Marco Pellegrino. But Costa, who was still hopeful of receiving a temporary work permit, will remain in Buenos Aires. Even a request for FIFA intervention yielded no results.

The legal issue, which remains open in the eyes of U.S. immigration, left Boca with no further options. Costa had attended the embassy in the morning but returned without his passport, awaiting the final response that arrived a few hours later.

With Pellegrino sidelined due to injury, Russo now turns back to veteran defender Marcos Rojo. At 35 and with his contract expiring at the end of the year, Rojo gets another chance to prove his value on the international stage. What seemed like the twilight of his Boca career could end with one last meaningful run in blue and gold.