Switzerland's World Cup preparations hit a snag Tuesday when forward Breel Embolo couldn't board the flight to Los Angeles. The Swiss federation confirmed his ESTA authorization was under review, leaving the 29-year-old striker behind as teammates traveled to their San Diego training camp.

Embolo, who has scored 24 goals in 86 internationals, faces uncertainty despite traveling to the US just a year ago for friendlies. That tour saw Switzerland defeat Mexico 4-2 in Salt Lake City and the US 4-0 in Nashville. The delay stems from previous pandemic-related issues, including a 2021 disciplinary action from Borussia Mönchengladbach for attending a lockdown party and a 2024 criminal case linking him to forged test certificates.

This represents Embolo's third World Cup as Switzerland's first-choice striker, making his potential absence a significant blow. The Swiss are favored to advance from Group A featuring co-host Canada, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Qatar, but losing their most experienced forward disrupts tactical planning.

The federation expects Embolo to join the squad Tuesday evening or Wednesday, though US authorities haven't explained the ESTA concerns. Switzerland's World Cup hopes now hinge on resolving this administrative issue quickly.