FIFA Axes Somali Referee Omar Artan After US Visa Denial for 2026 World Cup

In a controversial turn of events, FIFA has officially dropped Somali referee Omar Artan from the list of match officials for the 2026 World Cup after the United States blocked his entry. Artan, who was set to make history as the first Somali referee to officiate at a World Cup, had been included in the preliminary lineup of officials for the tournament, which will be co-hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico. The US government denied his visa without providing a clear reason, leading to his remov...