2026 World Cup: Somali referee Omar Artan denied entry to the United States

Author: lebledparle.comPublished on: June 9, 2026Country: Somalia

Sports

2026 World Cup: Somali referee Omar Artan denied entry to the United States

Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan was denied entry to the United States due to administrative issues, FIFA confirmed. He had been selected to officiate at the 2026 World Cup, which would have been the first time Somalia was represented in the tournament's refereeing corps. Despite efforts, no solution was found in time for him to participate in the North American competition.

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