US World Cup Referee Denied Entry

Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan has been dropped from the 2026 World Cup after being denied entry to the United States.

FIFA confirmed his exclusion, citing host country governments' authority over visas and admissions.

Artan, a FIFA-appointed official with a valid US visa, was turned away due to 'vetting concerns' linked to Trump's travel ban on Somalia.

This incident has reignited concerns about how Trump administration policies could disrupt the tournament, with critics questioning the fairness and implications for international sports events hosted in the US.