Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan was denied entry into the United States for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and returned home to Mogadishu, soccer officials said Friday.
Artan had been assigned to officiate matches during the tournament, which opened in Mexico City with 48 teams competing across North America.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection did not publicly explain the denial. The Somali Football Federation said it was seeking clarification through FIFA channels.
The incident drew attention to visa and entry issues affecting officials and participants as the tri-nation World Cup host format brings thousands of international visitors to the region.
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Sources:
https://www.npr.org/sections/world/