New Delhi, July 19 -- BARCELONA - Joan Capdevila won the World Cup on July 11, 2010, in Johannesburg. He played every minute of that tournament, collected 60 caps for Spain, and won the European Championship two years before the final. He was supposed to be in the stadium in New Jersey today. He is not allowed in.

The Royal Spanish Football Federation had invited members of Spain's 2010 World Cup-winning squad to attend Sunday's final at MetLife Stadium, where Spain face Argentina for a second World Cup title. Capdevila, now 46, applied for an Electronic System for Travel Authorization to enter the United States. His application was denied.

The reason, according to statements Capdevila made on social media, is a football match he played...