🚨 𝗗𝗜𝗗 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗞𝗡𝗢𝗪: It can take a referee up to 20 years from the start of officiating matches for them to be selected to officiate during a World Cup.
For reference, a brain surgeon can start working in less time than it'd take for a referee to officiate a World Cup.
Somali referee Omar Artan was about to officiate in the 2026 World Cup but was denied entry to the United States.