Somalian referee Omar Artan to miss World Cup after US denies 34-year-old a visa to work during tournament; Artan was voted best referee in Africa in 2025, and was set to become first Somali to ...

This episode feels symbolic of a World Cup where the global game has been sacrificed to Fifa’s cynical money-making – and Trumpian whim Omar Abdulkadir Artan was supposed to make history this week, ...

Artan deemed a threat to national security by US officials ‘I promise you that I will attend the next one’ The World Cup referee from Somalia who was denied entry to the US arrived on Wednesday in his ...

Artan was due to become the first Somali to officiate at football’s flagship event. However, Africa’s referee of the year in 2025 told the New York Times on Tuesday that he had been grilled for 11 ...

Days after he was denied entry to the United States, Omar Artan arrived home to a hero's welcome. Government officials greeted him at the airport with flowers, and fans draped him in the sky-blue ...

Omar Artan, a referee from Somalia, received a hero’s welcome upon his return to Mogadishu after being denied entry to the United States for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The homecoming saw crowds of ...

This is read by an automated voice. Please report any issues or inconsistencies here. See more from the L.A. Times in Google Search. Set us as preferred Somali World Cup referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan ...

See more of our trusted coverage when you search. Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. Canadian officials have said a World Cup referee denied entry to the ...

Somalia is one of about three dozen countries subject to travel restrictions under the Trump administration as it has focused on illegal immigration. Artan was set to be the first referee from Somalia ...

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Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. A World Cup referee from Somalia who was denied ...