Boca Juniors defender Ayrton Costa has been ruled out of the FIFA Club World Cup after the United States denied his visa application twice. Although the club hasn’t publicly shared the reason, reports from Mundo Deportivo suggest Costa’s past legal issues in Argentina may be behind the decision.
The 25-year-old was previously linked to an attempted robbery case in 2018. He avoided a full trial in 2023 by accepting probation, but the record remains active and appears to have affected his eligibility for travel. The case was reportedly categorised as “aggravated robbery committed in a populated area and by a group.”
Additionally, Marca reported that Costa was mentioned in a separate court case involving his brother, who is currently facing charges related to a domestic violence-related murder. Although Costa was not charged in that matter, his name appeared in official documents.
This is not the first time he’s faced travel restrictions. In 2023, while playing for Independiente, he was also barred from entering the US for reasons not tied to the Club World Cup.
With Costa now sidelined, Boca Juniors is expected to bring in veteran defender Marcos Rojo, who played for Manchester United from 2014 to 2021. Rojo, now 35, could bring valuable experience to the squad as they prepare for the global tournament.
