Somali referee Omar Artan, who was set to referee at the World Cup, was denied entry to the United States.
He received a diplomatic passport from the Somali embassy but was turned away upon his arrival.
Omar Artan was elected Best African Referee in 2025.
Iraqi footballer Aymen Hussein issued a statement after being detained and questioned for seven hours upon entering the United States:
“If America is so hostile towards foreign nationals, why is it hosting the #2026WorldCup?”