US Defends Denial of Visas to Somali Referee and Iranian Officials Ahead of World Cup

Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House World Cup task force, explained why some match officials and staff were denied entry. He said 35 teams have arrived without incident, but a few “bad actors” were blocked for security reasons. Giuliani refused to share details but confirmed that Somali referee Omar Artan—CAF’s 2025 Referee of the Year—was turned back at Miami airport “for a very good reason.” He also defended visa refusals for certain Iranian support staff, citing concerns over ties to the IRGC. He stressed that all accredited players and coaches are cleared to enter and insisted there are currently no credible threats to the tournament. Intelligence agencies will maintain heightened monitoring until the final whistle on July 19.

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