Somalian referee Omar Artan will miss the 2026 World Cup after being denied entry into the United States despite holding a valid visa.
The FIFA official was stopped at Miami International Airport and placed on a return flight to Turkey. FIFA confirmed the decision would not be reversed, ruling him out of the tournament.
Artan, who would have become Somalia’s first-ever World Cup referee, said he remains focused on future challenges.
The incident comes amid wider visa and immigration issues affecting players, officials and fans travelling to the tournament across the US, Canada and Mexico.
NEWS NOW:
