Somalia Referee Omar Artan Barred from Entering U.S. Ahead of FIFA World Cup

Omar Artan, a referee from Somalia, was selected as one of 52 officials for the FIFA World Cup. He traveled to the United States to begin his World Cup assignments. On Saturday, U.S. authorities denied him entry into the country. Officials cited “vetting concerns” as the reason for the denial. The decision prevented Artan from taking part in the tournament’s preparatory activities. No further details about the vetting issues were provided. The incident underscores the strict entry requirements for World Cup personnel. Observers will watch how the situation is resolved before the tournament starts.