Mount Pleasant lament US visa woes ahead of LA Galaxy clash Mount Pleasant FC faces significant challenges as they prepare to face the Los Angeles Galaxy in the Concacaf Champions League first-leg quarter-final. Up to 10 first-team players have been denied US visas, preventing them from traveling to California for the match on March 11. The return leg is set for March 19 at the National Stadium in Jamaica. Paul Christie, the club’s sporting director, expressed frustration over the visa issues, stating that the team has not been granted “fair play” and has been denied the chance to field their “best starting 11.” Christie emphasized that the club has sought assistance from Concacaf, the continental football governing body, but the situation remains unresolved. “We don’t want to just show up for the game; we want to be able to compete,” he said, adding that the issue affects not only Mount Pleasant but also the broader representation of Jamaica in international football. The team’s head coach, Theodore Whitmore, and the coaching staff will have to rely on younger players, including several academy prospects. Some of these players had recently represented Jamaica in the Concacaf Under-20 qualifying tournament in Curacao. Christie highlighted that the visa delays have “significantly and severely handicapped” their chances of performing at their best. Mount Pleasant’s squad includes several Haitian players, a group that faces travel restrictions under the policies of the Trump administration. Christie noted that the affected players have struggled to secure even interview dates at the US Embassy, further complicating their preparations. He described the visa issues as a major hurdle that has slowed progress on a project the club has been working on for three to four years.#mount_pleasant_fc #los_angeles_galaxy #concacaf_champions_league #paul_christie #theodore_whitmore
