Somali World Cup referee denied US entry over alleged terror ties
A Somali referee selected among FIFA’s 52 officials for the 2026 World Cup was denied a US visa after the Trump administration alleged possible terror links, putting his tournament participation in doubt. Officials highlighted the referee’s clean professional record while the US immigration authority said it would review the decision.
The Somali Football Federation condemned the move as politicizing sport. The incident has sparked debate about how international politics can affect officiating assignments for major tournaments.
Article facts
| Category | Football |
|---|---|
| Published | |
| Language | en |
| Free | Free — headline and summary on this page; no account |
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| No SKU, GTIN or MPN | No SKU, GTIN or MPN — this is a news story, not a product |