Overview

• NWSL star Deyna Castellanos chose not to join Venezuela's national team, citing fears over potential U.S. travel bans and their impact on her ability to return to the league.
• Four Zambian NWSL players also missed international games after their national team decided travel uncertainties made their participation too risky.
• The proposed travel bans stem from Trump-era policies under review since January, with no finalized list of affected countries yet released.
• NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman and U.S. Soccer CEO JT Batson highlighted the challenges these restrictions pose for players and upcoming global tournaments hosted by the U.S.
• Players and officials are calling for long-term solutions to ensure athlete mobility and safeguard both domestic league operations and international events.