Wolves Esports has officially confirmed it is out of the BLAST R6 Salt Lake City Major after the team’s visa applications were rejected by the United States’ authorities. Announced on social media, the news follows weeks of uncertainty regarding the Chinese roster’s ability to travel for the $600,000 tournament, which is scheduled to begin on 8 May.

The withdrawal marks a significant blow for the Rainbow Six Siege ecosystem, as the squad had secured its spot through a third-place finish in the newly integrated CN League.

The squad, which represents the esports division of the British football club Wolverhampton Wanderers, was slated to compete in the Phase 1 Play-In stage at the Salt Palace Convention Center. Despite the organisation’s professional backing, the five-man roster was unable to overcome the US immigration protocols.

“It’s official – our R6 team Visas have been denied and as such we will be unable to attend the Salt Lake City Major,” the organisation stated via social media. “It is very disappointing that we will be unable to take our spot on the international stage after all the hard work our team put into qualifying.”

Ubisoft has not yet officially confirmed a replacement.

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Other Rainbow Six Majors were directly affected by visa issues in the past. At the BLAST R6 Major Atlanta 2023, Alpha Atheris and Geekay Esports needed emergency substitutes. At the Six Charlotte Major 2022 over five organisations were affected, with some teams having to play from Mexico.

In 2025, Argentinian organisation BESTIA missed the Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) BLAST.tv Austin Major due to visa issues, while Brazilian teams FURIA, LOUD, and MIBR also had problems with their rosters’ documentation earlier that year at VCT Americas.

History raises concerns over upcoming events like the League of Legends World Championship (Worlds), which is due to be held in the US later this year. It is not only esports that has suffered from visa issues in the country: in 2025, a table tennis competition in Las Vegas was held without the then world champion after Brazilian player Hugo Calderano had his entry to the country denied.

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