Portland Thorns forward Deyna Castellanos recently made the decision not to play for Venezuela’s national team in order to avoid potential travel issues that could prevent her from returning to the United States. Castellanos expressed her concerns about the uncertainty surrounding immigration and travel policies under the Trump administration, which have made it difficult for international athletes to compete in both domestic and international events.
Several other National Women’s Soccer League players also faced travel concerns, with four NWSL players from Zambia being left out of games in China due to additional travel measures introduced by the U.S. administration. The NWSL stated that they are committed to working with FIFA, clubs, and governing bodies to advocate for solutions that protect athletes’ ability to compete on a global scale.
The ongoing review of restrictions for visitors from certain countries, including Venezuela and Cuba, has created uncertainty for athletes holding P-1 visas. In addition to travel issues, administration policies targeting transgender athletes have also raised concerns within the NWSL.
Castellanos, who chose to focus on training and playing in the U.S. instead of joining her national team, emphasized the importance of being able to continue playing in the country. Canadian midfielder Quinn, who publicly identifies as nonbinary, also shared that the current climate in the U.S. influenced their decision to join Canada’s Northern Super League. With the challenges faced by international athletes, the NWSL is working towards finding long-term solutions to support players while ensuring their well-being and ability to compete at a global level.
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