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Referee Arrives For World Cup And Gets Sent Home - The Damage Report [View all]
A Somali referee selected to officiate matches at the FIFA World Cup was denied entry into the United States despite possessing a valid visa, FIFA documentation, and years of professional experience. John Iadarola and Elliott Morgan break it down on The Damage Report. - 06/22/2026.
Read more here:
Somali Referee Says His World Cup Dream Is Dashed After U.S. Denies Entry - https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/09/world/africa/somali-referee-world-cup-us-entry-omar-artan.html
"A referee from Somalia said on Tuesday that the biggest dream of his professional life had been shattered after the American authorities denied him permission to enter the United States to participate in the World Cup soccer tournament.
The referee, Omar Abdulkadir Artan, was one of 52 selected for this summer’s World Cup in North America. He was one of seven African referees to be chosen for the tournament and would have been the first Somali to referee a World Cup game.
Speaking for the first time since he was denied entry to the United States, Mr. Artan told The New York Times that officiating a World Cup game would have been a symbol for all Somalis of what they could achieve in spite of their country’s difficulties."
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