A World Cup referee from Somalia, Omar Artan, was met by a crowd of supporters and officials in Mogadishu on Wednesday after being denied entry to the United States.
Artan, who was set to become the first Somali referee to officiate at a World Cup, had been included on FIFA’s final list for the tournament and was recognized as Africa’s top male referee in 2025.
His denial of entry occurred at Miami International Airport on Saturday due to "vetting concerns," according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which did not elaborate on the specifics.
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