Omar Artan, who was poised to make history as the first Somali to referee at the World Cup finals, has been removed from the list of officials. This decision stems from his denial of entry into the United States. The withdrawal of Artan from the prestigious tournament is a significant blow, as he was set to represent Somalia on the global stage. His exclusion means the World Cup will proceed without the planned representation from Somalia in the refereeing ranks. Artan’s denial of entry to the United States directly led to his removal from the official list for the World Cup. The tournament is due to be hosted by the United States along with other nations.
Source: BBC Sport | Published: Mon, 08 Jun 2026 22:42:25 UK
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