Somalia

Omar Artan Denied US Entry: World Cup Refereeing’s Darkest Week

June 9, 2026 by James Whitmore

Somali referee Omar Artan denied US entry despite a valid visa, missing the 2026 World Cup. We examine what happened, what’s disputed, and what it means.

Categories Analysis Tags FIFA, Omar Artan, Refereeing, Somalia, US border, World Cup 2026, World Cup officiating

World Cup 2026: A Guide to Football’s Biggest-Ever Tournament

The story so far. The 2026 FIFA World Cup runs 11 June to 19 July across the USA,…

By James Whitmore

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