CAF’s Top Referee Omar Artan Barred from US, Set to Miss 2026 World Cup
Omar Abdulkadir Artan, crowned CAF’s Best Referee for 2025, was denied entry into the United States. He was scheduled to officiate at the 2026 World Cup, which would have made him the first Somali referee at the tournament. No clear explanation for the visa rejection has been provided so far. Somalia remains subject to US travel restrictions, limiting many nationals from obtaining certain visa types. Neither FIFA nor the Somali Football Federation has commented on the incident.
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