MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — A World Cup referee from Somalia who was denied entry to the United States was received by a crowd of supporters and officials Wednesday as he arrived in Somalia’s capital of ...

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — A Somali soccer referee who was due to become the first from his country to officiate the World Cup but was denied entry to the United States was named Africa’s best referee ...

Somali referee Omar Artan won't officiate in the World Cup after being denied entry into the United States. U.S. Customs and Border Protection said Monday that a Somali national who was planning to ...

The Somali World Cup referee who had been blocked from entering the United States will receive his full pay for the matches he would have officiated. Multiple reports on Sunday indicated that Omar ...

Andrew Giuliani, the executive director of the White House's World Cup task force and the son of former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani, said he stood by the U.S.'s decision to reject Omar Artan.

Somalia's Omar Artan was set to make history in the 2026 World Cup. Instead, he had to go home.

The United States have issued a statement after Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan was denied entry ahead of the World Cup.

Omar Artan, who was named Africa's best male referee in 2025, was denied entry into the United States to work the World Cup earlier this month.

Somali referee Omar Artan receives a hero's welcome at home after being blocked from entering the United States and taking ...

Federal immigration authorities barred a Somali soccer referee who was slated to officiate the FIFA World Cup from entering the U.S. over the weekend, citing "vetting concerns." ...

Somali referee Omar Artan will be paid in full for the 2026 FIFA World Cup despite being denied entry to the United States for the tournament.

Omar Artan, 34, was meant to be the first Somali referee to officiate at a World Cup. Instead, he says, he was questioned for hours about a militant group and then denied entry to the U.S.