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 while maintaining a level playing field for all teams.

Omar Artan was set to become the first Somalian to officiate a World Cup match. He was denied entry to the United States on Monday at Miami International Airport.

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…