CARSON, Calif. — Mount Pleasant, hailing from the Jamaican Premier League, is preparing to face the LA Galaxy of MLS in a Concacaf Champions Cup match on Wednesday, but will likely be short-handed, with as many as 10 players potentially absent.
The absence is attributed to visa issues, as officials confirmed that six players from Haiti, along with others, were unable to secure authorization to enter the U.S.
Despite the challenges, officials stated that the match will proceed as planned, while the Jamaican club explores options to include younger players from their academy if needed. Concacaf is also involved in finding a resolution.
The United States has travel restrictions in place for citizens from certain countries, including Haiti; however, provisions exist that may help athletes in specific situations.
The Jamaican team has been grappling with this issue since last week, without a successful resolution thus far.
This match marks the first leg of a two-legged round of 16 in the tournament, with the return leg scheduled to be held in Kingston, Jamaica on March 19.
Last year’s champions, Cruz Azul, triumphed over the Vancouver Whitecaps with a 5-0 scoreline in the final.
Information from The Associated Press contributed to this report.