Ex-England star and pundit Wright cut a forlorn figure in an Instagram video two days before the tournament starts

Award-winning Somali referee Omar Artan, set to be the first from his country to officiate at the World Cup, was denied entry to the United...

Somali referee Omar Artan won’t officiate in the World Cup after being denied entry into the United States. U.S.

Award-winning Somali referee Omar Artan was denied entry to the US for the World Cup, despite having a valid visa. This decision sparks debate on fairness.

Omar Artan arrived in Miami from Istanbul on Saturday but was barred from entering the country following a "routine" inspection, CBP said.

Somali referee Omar Artan has been denied entry into the United States after getting selected to officiate in the World Cup

The referee was "determined to be inadmissible due to vetting concerns and was denied entry," a CBP spokesperson said, without going into further detail.

The World Cup begins in a matter of days, yet one World Cup referee has just been informed they will not be allowed to enter the United States of America

Award-winning referee Omar Artan was 'determined to be inadmissible due to vetting concerns' after arriving in Miami.

Award-winning Somali referee Omar Artan has been dropped from officiating at the World Cup after being barred from entering the United States, world football's governing body FIFA…

Highly rated Somali referee Omar Artan is turned away from the US just days before he was expected to officiate in the FIFA World Cup.

Customs and Border Protection cited unspecified “vetting concerns” for denying entry to Omar Artan.

A Somali referee was on Monday dropped from the World Cup after he was denied entry to the United States, reigniting concerns about how Donald Trump's immigration crackdown could…

CBP cites ‘vetting concerns’ after Somali referee Omar Artan arrived in Miami.

US Customs and Border Protection said Monday that a Somali national who was planning to referee in the World Cup had been denied entry after arriving to Miami International…

It comes after several incidents that have put US immigration and border enforcement into the spotlight ahead of the World Cup.

Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan will not take part in this summer’s World Cup after he was denied entry into the United States, FIFA confirmed on Monday.

Omar Abdulkadir Artan was one of 52 match officials listed for the World Cup, and the first ever from Somalia. But he hasn’t been allowed into the USA.

Omar Artan, Africa's top referee in 2025, was set to become the first Somali national to officiate at a FIFA World Cup before being denied entry by US authorities

Omar Abdulkadir Artan turned away by immigration officials. Fifa president Gianni Infantino previously said ‘everyone will be welcome’.

LOS ANGELES (AFP) -- A Somali referee was on Monday dropped from the World Cup after he was denied entry to the United States, reigniting concerns about how Don