Somali referee axed from World Cup after being denied entry to US
Award-winning Somali referee Omar Artan has been dropped from officiating at the World Cup after being barred from entering the United States, FIFA said on Monday...
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Award-winning Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan has been removed from officiating duties at the FIFA World Cup 2026 after being denied entry into the United States.
- Omar Abdulkadir Artan was reportedly denied entry at Miami International Airport on Saturday.
- The decision was made by United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) due to "vetting concerns."
- FIFA stated they have no influence over host country immigration decisions and that Artan's status is unlikely to change.
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Somali Referee Removed from World Cup After Being Denied Entry to US - June 2026
Award-winning Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan has been removed from officiating duties at the FIFA World Cup 2026 after being denied entry into the United States. At the same time, Chinese referee Ma Ning has become an unlikely viral star among Chinese fans whose national team failed to qualify for the World Cup. The 46-year-old official, nicknamed "Card Master," is representing success-starved China fans at the tournament. Former Harambee Starlets defender Terry Ouko has also been appointed by FIFA to a key role at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, representing Kenya on the global stage.
