A senior White House official defended U.S. entry restrictions affecting some international participants in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, arguing that the...

The development comes amid growing scrutiny over US visa policies affecting participants in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and…

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

June 8 : The United States denied entry to a Somali referee who arrived in the country over the weekend to officiate games during the FIFA World Cup, the U.S. Customs and Border…

Federal immigration authorities barred a Somali soccer referee who was slated to officiate the FIFA World Cup from entering the U.S. over the weekend, citing "vetting concerns."

As the World Cup begins later this week, match officials and team members have faced enhanced immigration scrutiny when trying to enter the United States. A FIFA referee from…

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.

White House World Cup chief defends visa ban for Somali referee, Iranians

A senior White House official defended U.S. entry restrictions affecting some international participants in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, arguing that the...

FIFA scrambles to protect 2026 World Cup access as US travel bans covering 39 countries threaten fans and teams, with match relocations to Canada under

The White House has defended denying entry to Somali referee Omar Artan and several Iranian officials, as immigration restrictions emerge as a major controversy ahead of the 2026…

Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.AllNewsSportCultureLifestyleSomali referee Omar Artan was denied entry…

The White House defended denying visas to a Somali referee and some Iranian support staff for the World Cup, citing associations with terrorist organisations and ensuring security…

The White House’s World Cup Taskforce chief has defended to ban a Somali referee from entering the US, citing alleged links to “bad actors”. Omar Artan, who was set to become the…

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The referee was one of 52 match officials chosen by FIFA for this summer's World Cup.

By Janina Nuno Rios and Angelica MedinaMEXICO CITY, June 10 (Reuters) - FIFA President Gianni Infantino defended the way soccer's governing body had handled visa issues ahead of…

Gianni Infantino speaks on Iran, visas and ticket prices on eve of 2026 World Cup

Speaking on the eve of the 2026 World Cup, his first press conference in three years, Gianni Infantino says he has no regrets about hosting the World Cup in the US.

FIFA chief Gianni Infantino has responded to backlash after Somali referee Omar Artan was denied US entry ahead of the 2026 World Cup.Artan was refused entry at the border due to…

WASHINGTON, June 11 : U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin on Thursday defended the Trump administration's visa denials as the World Cup kicked off this week, saying…