Somali Referee Omar Artan Dropped from World Cup After US Visa Denial

Omar Artan, Somalia's pioneering referee and CAF's 2025 Men's Referee of the Year, has been excluded from the 2026 FIFA World Cup after U.S. authorities denied him entry at Miami airport. FIFA confirmed his removal, stating it cannot override U.S. immigration decisions. Artan expressed disappointment but remained optimistic about his future.