Mount Pleasant denied visas for 10 players ahead of LA Galaxy Champions Cup tie

Mount Pleasant's upcoming CONCACAF Champions Cup trip to Los Angeles has been disrupted after the U.S. State Department denied entry documents for several key players, including six Haitian nationals. As many as 10 players have had visas denied, leaving the Jamaican club facing the prospect of traveling without a large portion of its senior squad ahead of the first leg at Dignity Health Sports Park.

CONCACAF is working with the club to appeal the decision before their scheduled departure on Sunday. Sporting director Paul Christie warned the club may have to field a makeshift team. "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." If appeals fail, Mount Pleasant—last year's CONCACAF Caribbean Cup champions—would need to call on seven or eight players from its youth academy to complete the matchday squad.

The case has raised broader concerns about travel rules for major events, including the World Cup. David J.

United States, Los Angeles

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