DHS Secretary Refuses To Give Reason Why Somali Referee Was Denied Entry

The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off Thursday — and HuffPost is live-blogging every twist, turn and controversy of what’s widely shaping up to be the most political soccer tournament of all time.From the action on the pitch to the potential chaos off it, the storylines are already piling up: Iran’s possible non-participation amid Donald Trump’s war, the president’s close relationship with FIFA’s Peace Prize-awarding President Gianni Infantino, and simmering tensions between the U.S. and fellow host nations Mexico and Canada fueled by Trump’s tariffs and divisive rhetoric.Trump’s travel bans have kept some fans and officials out; there’s been fury over soaring ticket prices, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents could be present at games as the Trump administration continues its anti-immigration crackdown.Not to mention extreme heat concerns that scorched everyone involved the last time the U.S. hosted the tournament, some 32 years ago, in 1994.And that’s all before a ball has been kicked.President Donald Trump, left, received the FIFA Peace Prize from FIFA President Gianni Infantino, right, in December.Andrew Harnik via Getty ImagesOn the field, the men’s national teams from 48 countries will compete in a record 104 matches across the three host nations in what will be the biggest World Cup in history.Mexico will take on South Africa at the iconic Mexico City Stadium in the opening game on June 11. The U.S. will play Paraguay in Los Angeles on June 12, Australia in Seattle on June 19 and Turkey back in Los Angeles on June 25, in the group games, before potentially competing in the later knockout rounds.The final will be held on July 19 at MetLife Stadium, which is being temporarily rebranded as the New York/New Jersey Stadium for the competition.Current European champions Spain are favorites to lift the trophy. Defending champions Argentina, of Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi fame, along with France, England and Brazil, are also expected to be in the mix.Check out the full games schedule on the FIFA website.Follow along with our coverage below:DHS Secretary Refuses To Give Reason Why Somali Referee Was Denied EntryHomeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin refused to specify why Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan was denied entry into the U.S. despite possessing a valid visa. "We're not gonna allow people that have criminal, or maybe perceived to be, have criminal ties to come into this country. I don't care what your situation is," Mullin said at a Thursday briefing. "I'm not gonna get into why we denied this individual, but there's a reason why this person was denied." "Now the left media wants to go out there and report and say this guy's a victim of, because we're, you know, anti-Somalia? No, we're not, we work closely with FIFA and the administration on a regular basis," he added. Mullin reiterated that he would not go into specifics as to why Artan was denied entry. Despite his claims of working closely with FIFA, a spokesperson for the organization told Reuters on Tuesday that it "is not involved in host country immigration processes, including visa adjudications, and has been informed by authorities that Mr Artan's status will not be changed at present." A Trump administration official told Reuters that Artan was denied entry due to links to "suspected members of terror organizations."President Donald Trump's strict immigration policy has been a major concern leading up to the World Cup. Last year, the administration imposed travel bans on citizens from 12 countries, including Somalia. Latest Live UpdatesJason Sudeikis To Appear As Ted Lasso Before Team USA's Opening Match On FridayActor Jason Sudeikis, star of the hit Apple TV comedy-drama series "Ted Lasso," will appear at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles as his titular character ahead of the U.S.'s first FIFA World Cup match against Paraguay on Friday, according to a report from Sports Illustrated.Sudeikis will welcome fans to the match in character as an official World Cup ambassador. His inclusion in the event is indicative of the indelible impact the show, about a scrappy, ill-qualified Premier League soccer manager, has had on the sport's popularity in America. The U.S. opening ceremony will also include performances by Katy Perry, Future, Anitta, LISA, Rema and Tyla. Read more from Sports Illustrated here: Germany's World Cup Stars Step In To Cover Fans' Sky-High U.S. Travel CostsGerman players have stepped up to ease fans' pain from soaring transport costs at the World Cup, offering to pay for 600 of them to travel by bus to their last Group E game against Ecuador in New Jersey on June 25, media reports said.City authorities hiked rail and bus fares from New York to the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey by several times, citing increased pressure on the public transit systems.That triggered a backlash from fans who have already paid high prices for match tickets."In light of the high cost of bus and train travel in New York during the World Cup, the German national team players have organised free transport to the final group match for 600 fans," the BBC quoted the German Football Association as saying."Captain Joshua Kimmich and his teammates are covering the cost of buses to take supporters from New York to the arena in New Jersey for the match against Ecuador."Reuters could not immediately confirm the statement.A round trip to the stadium by train, which usually costs $12.90, has been set at $98 during World Cup games, down from the originally proposed $150 fare after NJ Transit faced heavy criticism.Shuttle buses will cost $20, down from the initial $80 price tag.Transport was free for fans at the last two World Cups in Russia and Qatar.Four-time champions Germany will begin their campaign in Houston against Curacao on Sunday.World Cup Fan Festival Cancelled Amid Severe Weather RiskFans attending the World Cup fan festival in Toronto were met with disappointment on Thursday after organisers cancelled the event due to poor weather, on the eve of Canada's first game."Out of an abundance of caution, the FIFA Fan Festival Toronto is being evacuated due to risk of lightning," organisers said on social media.The weather-related disruption - the latest to affect the tournament - occurred as fans were watching on the big screen Mexico play South Africa in the tournament opener.Sports scientists say there are clear weather-related risks facing a summer World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States. Seasonal forecasts indicate above-normal temperatures across large parts of the U.S., while moisture flowing north from the Gulf of Mexico could fuel thunderstorms and severe weather during the opening weeks of the tournament.Fans took to social media to question the city's readiness for the tournament after Toronto had also faced criticism for proposing no free tickets.The city reversed course on its plans and released some free tickets in May, which sold out within hours. The festival, which is set to include live game broadcasts, food and entertainment, will run till July 19.Toronto, one of 16 cities hosting games at the 48-team World Cup, will stage six matches, starting with Canada against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Friday.Iran Opens World Cup Camp Hundreds Of Miles From Planned U.S. BaseIran conducted open training at their World Cup base camp on Thursday in Tijuana, where the team arrived amid geopolitical tensions that have threatened to overshadow the world's biggest sporting event.The team moved their base camp from the United States to Mexico late last month after the U.S. and Israel conducted joint strikes on Iran beginning in late February. They are set to play the first of their three group-stage matches at Los Angeles Stadium on Monday against New Zealand.The team had previously selected a sports ‌complex in Tucson, Arizona.Players were seen working through basic calisthenics on the pitch under sunny skies in a recovery training session after playing Xolos de Tijuana's U-21 team a day prior.A sign declaring "WELCOME TO TIJUANA" loomed in the background, along with messages written in Farsi and Spanish as the players jogged around the field.The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said this week that Iranian players would be allowed to enter the U.S. the day before each of their three group-stage matches, countering previous media reports that claimed the team would have to enter and exit the U.S. the same day they were playing.A team official said Iran would travel to Los Angeles on Sunday, a day before their World Cup opener, for training and the official FIFA press conference, and planned to hold two more open practices on Friday and Saturday.Iran are set to return to Los Angeles to play Belgium on June 21 and will close out their group stage against Egypt on June 26 in Seattle.South Korea's Beauty Triumphs Over Czech Set-Piece Beasts In World CupIt was the tale of "Beauty and the Beast" that lit up the Estadio Guadalajara on Thursday, with South Korea's prettier, stylish football triumphing over the Czech Republic's rugged, route-one tactics in an adrenaline-fuelled World Cup encounter.South Korea were more than worthy of the 2-1 win, showing their trademark indomitable spirit with a come-from-behind victory to join Mexico atop Group A, all packed into the scintillating second half of a match the Asian side dominated.The Koreans had their game plan and stuck to it, taking it to the Czechs throughout, with silky, intricate play and precision passes that put their opponents on the back foot.Talisman Son Heung-min got the lion's share of the chances, yet - frustratingly - none of the goals.South Korea demonstrated their World Cup pedigree, present in 11 successive tournaments and unbeaten in qualifying with a whopping 40 goals scored, delivering on Thursday an early message of intent that a deep run could be on the cards.Son worked seamlessly with the impressive Lee Kang-in and Lee Jae-sung to create a host of first-half chances, with the trio combining darting runs through the middle with a succession of dangerous pass-and-go moves that they just could not finish.BRUTE STRENGTH AND GARGANTUAN THROWSBut in a game of stark contrasts, it was the Czechs and their direct, physical play who scored first through Ladislav Krejci just before the hour with a perfectly timed header from a 35-metre, slingshot-like throw from Vladimir Coufal.South Korea were buoyed by a largely Mexican crowd in Guadalajara that was clearly rooting for them.They kept cool heads and levelled eight minutes later, when Hwang In-beom picked up Lee Kang-in’s neat through pass and turned brilliantly to fool two defenders, before deftly lifting the ball over advancing goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu.They seized the momentum and battled hard for the win, going ahead after 80 minutes when Hwang turned provider with a precise low cross for substitute Oh Hyeon-gyu to turn into the net.Strong and dangerous on almost every set-piece, the Czechs stuck with what they knew best as they pushed for an equaliser in a dramatic finish, with Adam Hlozek close to scoring from another gargantuan throw and Tomas Soucek's headed goal from a free kick disallowed for offside.South Korea coach Hong Myung-bo commended his players for their fighting spirit and an approach that went just as he had instructed."Before the match I gave the players two messages," he said. "To not give up until the end, and to unite as one and play together."2 Fans Are Being Paid $50,000 To Watch All 104 World Cup Matches From The Middle Of NYCTwo lucky soccer fans have just landed their dream jobs. They are being paid $50,000 a piece to watch all 104 FIFA World Cup matches from inside a specially designed viewing cube smack dab in the middle of Times Square. Austin Franklin and Kevin Akoto were selected from over 6,000 Indeed applicants to become the official FOX One Chief World Cup Watchers. FOX Sports, FOX One and Indeed said in a joint press release that Franklin and Akoto stood out from the pack for their "passion for the game, content creation skills and ability to bring fans together around the world’s biggest sporting event."“Following an overwhelming response from fans nationwide, we couldn’t select just a single watcher,” Brian Borkowski, chief marketing officer of FOX Direct to Consumer, said in the release. “This role is all about the fans – and bringing them closer to the action wherever they are. From the cube to social feeds across the country, Austin and Kevin will help connect millions of people through every unforgettable moment of this historic tournament.”The chief World Cup watchers will spend more than five weeks inside the cube. On Thursday, the pair began their first official day on duty by watching Mexico's 2-0 victory over South Africa. “It still feels pretty surreal,” Franklin said in the release. “Being able to watch every World Cup match and share those moments with fans everywhere from Times Square is a dream. I’m so excited to bring fans along for every moment of it.”“To call this a dream job almost feels like an understatement,” said Akoto.Fans will be able to keep up with Franklin and Akoto's stay in the cube by following their individual social media accounts, as well as the accounts of FOX One, FOX Soccer and Indeed.Two football fans are being paid $50,000 each to watch all 104 #WorldCup games from a specially built cube in Times Square, New York. Austin Franklin & Kevin Akoto were picked from 6,000+ who applied. Fans are sitting outside the cube watching them watch the football... pic.twitter.com/3np0viqRvj— Neil Johnston (@ndjohnston) June 11, 2026Mexico Launches Its 2026 World Cup Campaign With A 2-0 Win Over South AfricaJulián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez helped Mexico make an exuberant start to the World Cup on Thursday, scoring a goal each in a 2-0 win over South Africa in the opening match of the tournament.With a capacity crowd of 80,824 watching at the iconic Azteca Stadium, co-host Mexico started the largest World Cup tournament in history by getting goals in each half while three red cards were shown — two for South Africa and one for Mexico.Read more from The Associated Press:Mexico Opens World Cup Against A Backdrop Of ProtestsMEXICO CITY, June 11 (Reuters) - Mexico City opened the World Cup on Thursday at the famous Azteca stadium with a ceremony celebrating pre-Hispanic culture, as the ground rocked ahead of the tournament's first match between Mexico and South Africa that kicks off against a backdrop of protests around the capital.Fans in Mariachi costumes, with sombreros and trumpets, formed a sea of dark green support as Shakira and Burna Boy performed the 2026 World Cup anthem and pyrotechnics filled the ground.Alejandro Garcia, 50, decked out in a sombrero and carrying a replica trophy, said he was proud that Mexico was hosting another World Cup. He was a young kid when the country last hosted the tournament in 1986."This is our temple," he said on the concourse around the Azteca. "It's going to be a great World Cup, all of the protests will now be forgotten."But outside the ground, the city of 9 million people remained deeply divided.The run-up to the tournament in Mexico, which the country is co-hosting with the U.S. and Canada, has been marked by social unrest in the capital as various groups -- from teachers to families of those missing in the drug war -- have marched in attempts to leverage the international spotlight to advance their cause.At least six protests were planned on Thursday, with the city a contradiction of celebration and opposition. Freshly painted murals, new trains and a revamped stadium aimed at welcoming tourists for the games contrasted with steel barricades mounted by businesses to protect themselves from rioters along the capital's main avenue. CAMPS AND MARCHESAbout three miles from the Azteca, thousands of disgruntled teachers from around the country began marching towards the stadium ahead of the match.Avelina Cruz Miguel, who has taught elementary school for 22 years, travelled from Oaxaca to protest for better pay. She said the protests offered an opportunity for the teachers to make their demands known at "an international level." "There is no support for education" in Mexico, she said.Teachers had also camped outside the central Zocalo square for days leading up to the start of the tournament.The encampment forced authorities to barricade the entrance to the Zocalo on the eve of the competition opener and raised fears the area would be closed to fans who had planned to amass in the square to watch on a big screen.On Thursday, tents lined the streets for multiple blocks surrounding the square but authorities confirmed the fan zone would be open.Mario Martinez, 30, from Tijuana, was one of the first fans to enter with his girlfriend. He said they had come to the fan zone because stadium tickets were too expensive and had been worried the event would be cancelled. "Thank God it all worked out."In the Zocalo, organisers said the fan zone was at capacity with over 50,000 packed into the square to watch the game.Many residents have complained money was being spent to beautify the city for visitors without addressing underlying infrastructure issues. Thursday was declared an official holiday in Mexico City, in part to alleviate transport concerns.Other Chilangos, as Mexico City locals are known, complained of prohibitively high ticket prices that had kept them from seeing the spectacle live in their home town. For the opening match between Mexico and South Africa some fans interviewed by Reuters said they had paid $3,000 or more, way out of reach for most Mexicans. FIFA has defended its pricing saying the cost of tickets is on a par with other major sporting events."FIFA is only interested in profit," said Jonathan Cordoba, 33, as he stood in a long queue to enter the stadium. But he said he had no regrets: "It's the passion!"(Reporting by Stephen Eisenhammer, Emily Green, Cassandra Garrison and Sarah Morland in Mexico City. Editing by Toby Davis.)Donald Trump’s Welcome To The World Cup Video Goes Off The Rails In ‘Tonight Show’ BitOn the eve of the World Cup that the United States is co-hosting, Jimmy Fallon imagined President Donald Trump releasing a video to welcome the different countries. Read more below.Somali Referee Picked For Major Gig After U.S. Denies Entry To World CupSomali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, who is unable to take part in the World Cup after being denied entry to the United States, has been appointed to officiate the UEFA Super Cup between Paris St Germain and Aston Villa.Artan, 34, was named among match officials for the June 11-July 19 World Cup but was forced to miss the tournament after U.S. authorities refused him entry despite having a valid visa.Read more from Reuters:See All Updates