Somali referee Omar Artan, who would have become his country’s first official to work a World Cup match, was denied entry into the United States, barring his participation in the tournament. Artan arrived in Miami but was turned away by US authorities who cited unspecified vetting concerns that rendered him inadmissible. FIFA subsequently confirmed that it could not intervene and removed him from World Cup duties. Artan, named Africa’s best referee in 2025, responded positively to the decision, thanking FIFA and the Confederation of African Football for their support. His case is part of broader travel challenges affecting World Cup participants, including visa complications for Iranian and Iraqi delegates.
DW