Somali referee Omar Artan was barred from participating in the FIFA World Cup after being denied entry to the United States. Artan, who was named Africa's best referee in 2025, was turned away at Miami International Airport due to vetting concerns.
He was traveling to the U.S. to officiate at the tournament but was instead sent back to Istanbul. The decision prevented him from taking part in one of football's most prestigious events.
Sources: https://en.tempo.co/read/2107579/somali-referee-barred-from-world-cup-after-us-entry-denial