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Somali soccer referee denied US entry, will miss World Cup debut

Football

Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026. Somali football referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, who had been expected to officiate at the World Cup, has been denied entry into the US.

Photo credit: Reuters
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By  Reuters

News agency

Thomson Reuters

The United States has denied entry to soccer referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, who had been expected to be the first Somali to ​officiate at a match in the World Cup.

A FIFA spokesperson said Artan would not ‌be able to train and officiate at the World Cup -- the latest edition of which kicks off on Thursday -- after he was not allowed to enter the United States over the weekend.

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