When FIFA announced its list of officials for the 2026 World Cup, one name stood out for Somalia: Omar Abdulkadir Artan. The experienced referee was set to become the first Somali official to referee at a FIFA World Cup, a milestone celebrated across his country. But days before the tournament began, Omar Artan's dream was shattered. He was denied entry into the United States, sparking international debate and putting him at the center of a global controversy.
He was not given entry into the US over suspected links to members of terror organisations, news agency Associated Press reported, quoting a US official.
