Somali referee Omar Artan denied entry to the United States

Somali referee Omar Artan was denied access to American territory to officiate at the 2026 World Cup. This administrative decision prevented him from participating in the competition organized in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Despite this setback related to the tournament qualifications, his international reputation allowed him to gain access to other prestigious refereeing responsibilities, illustrating the recognition of his expertise in world football.