It's not without irony that the most inclusive World Cup in the history of the tournament is being co-hosted by the US, the most exclusionary host ever. Already among those denied entry, along with scores of fans, journalists and team officials from participating countries that the US government does not like, is Africa's 2025 referee of the year Omar Artan, who was set to become the first Somali referee at the World Cup finals.
A few days before that, the official photographer travelling with the Iraqi team was turned back from Chicago's O'Hare airport, and the team's talismanic striker Aymen Hussein, who scored the goal that brought Iraq back to the World Cup after 40 yrs, was detained and questioned for 7 hrs.
