African World Cup referee denied entry into the US by border controlA Somali referee chosen to officiate at the World Cup has been denied entry into the United States.CBP confirmed on Monday that a Somali national who was planning to referee in the World Cup had been denied entry.Although the CBP statement on Monday did not explicitly name the individual, Artan is the sole World Cup referee representing Somalia.Will Castle9 June 2026 08:35World Cup 2026 fixtures: Full schedule, kick-off times and groupsWith the final squads being named, teams will now prepare for their first group stage games in the USA, Canada and Mexico.There will be 104 matches, up 40 since Qatar World Cup 2022, while Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo likely to play on this stage for the last time in their glittering careers.Here’s how the tournament will unfold across 39 action-packed daysWill Castle9 June 2026 08:29Welcome!Good morning and welcome to The Independent’s live news blog for the 2026 World Cup!Stay tuned for all the latest news and updates heading into and throughout the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.(Getty)Will Castle9 June 2026 08:21