FIFA drops Somali World Cup referee after US denies him entry

FIFA removed Somali referee Omar Artan from the World Cup roster on November 20, 2022, after he was denied entry into the United States. Artan, an award-winning official, was scheduled to officiate matches in the tournament. The denial of entry prevented him from participating in the global sporting event. This decision impacted FIFA's officiating assignments for the World Cup. The specific reasons for the US denying Artan entry were not immediately disclosed.