By LUKE POWER
Published: 05:11 EDT, 13 June 2025 | Updated: 05:14 EDT, 13 June 2025
A Club World Cup star has been denied entry to the United States - paving the way for a former Manchester United star to grace the big stage.
Boca Juniors defender Ayrton Costa is set to miss the tournament after his visa application was rejected twice for reasons the club did not disclose.
Costa, 25, was named in an attempted robbery case in Argentina in 2018 but was granted probation in 2023 to avoid a trial, according to Mundo Deportivo.
The case was reportedly classified as 'aggravated robbery in a populated area and as a group' and the record remains active and impacts his visa applications.
He was also named in court documents as an accessory to a domestic violence murder for which his brother is a defendant, according to Marca, but was never charged.
Costa suffered a similar ban in 2023 while he was a player for Independiente, though that was not for the Club World Cup.
His absence means that former Manchester United defender Marcos Rojo, 35, is expected to get the nod in Boca's defence.
Rojo's role declined to that of a bit-part player last season but he still managed to play 13 games.
More to follow.
Club World Cup