- Somali referee Omar Artan was denied entry to the US for the World Cup despite holding a valid visa, following an 11-hour immigration interview.
- The Trump administration stated Artan was deemed a "national security threat" by US Customs and Border Protection due to alleged links with "suspected members of terror organisations".
- Artan, who was Africa’s referee of the year in 2025, expressed profound disappointment at missing his dream of officiating at the World Cup.
- Somalia's government unsuccessfully attempted to negotiate Artan's entry, highlighting his international achievements as a source of national pride.
- FIFA stated it is not involved in host country immigration processes and confirmed Artan would not officiate, with other World Cup personnel also facing entry issues.
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