Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, CAF’s 2025 men’s referee of the year, arrived in Miami with a valid U.S. visa but was barred by Customs and Border Protection after 11 hours of questioning over alleged ties to terror groups. The decision kept him from joining FIFA’s training camp in Florida, dashing his shot at becoming Somalia’s first World Cup official. Back home, fans celebrated him as a symbol of pride, while he called it fate and stayed hopeful for future opportunities. His case spotlights broader visa issues hitting delegations and fans as the tournament begins across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
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