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Sports / Football

Somali referee axed from World Cup after being denied entry to US: FIFA

Published: 09 Jun 2026 - 12:06 pm | Last Updated: 09 Jun 2026 - 12:07 pm

The Peninsula

Los Angeles, United States: 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.

"FIFA can confirm that match official Omar Abdulkadir Artan will be unable to train and officiate at the FIFA World Cup 2026 after he was denied entry into the United States," a FIFA spokesperson told AFP