Sometimes what feels like rejection is actually redirection to... something bigger. Somali referee Omar Artan was denied entry into the US to officiate at the World Cup — a moment many thought would damage his career. Instead, he returned home a national hero. 🇸 A hero’s welcome. A meeting with the President. A match played in his honour. Cash gifts. And now, a chance to officiate the UEFA Super Cup. And now, even the girls in Somalia are falling for the famous ref. 😌😍 Some “misfortunes” are blessings in disguise. 🇸🇴 #WorldCup #FifaWorldCup #Somaliashow more

🚨🇸🇴 WATCH: The moment referee Omar Artan was welcomed... back to Somalia after being denied entry to the US where he was set to officiate at the World Cup Artan said“I promise you, God willing, that I will attend the next one”show more

Omar Artan arrives to referee the UEFA Super Cup,... two months after he was denied entry into the US to referee at the World Cup 👏show more

Somali referee Omar Artan was denied entry into the... United States, a move that cost him the opportunity to officiate on the international stage for a season. However, the rejection has made him a star and a hero back home. As the saying goes, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Omar will never be the same again. 🎥 Courtesyshow more

Patrice Motsepe continues to strengthen his influence within world... football, standing in a unique position as a bridge between the different sides currently involved in the ongoing football tensions. Today, the CAF President is at the UEFA Super Cup with UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin, showing his support for Somalia’s Omar Artan as he officiates on the European stage. #AfricanFootball #OmarArtan #Somalia #UEFASuperCupshow more

Omar Artan is ready to make HISTORY as the... first ever non-European to referee the UEFA Super Cup after his World Cup controversy 👏show more

🇸🇴 𝐆𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. 👏 CAF... Referee of the Year Omar Artan is back in Somalia, training alongside young and upcoming match officials. He is also taking the time to share his knowledge, experience and lessons from the highest level of African football with the next generation of Somali referees. A beautiful example of experience being passed on. #AfricanFootball #Somalia #OmarArtanshow more

'Africa's best referee' gets hero's welcome at Somali airport... — after US denied him entry to 2026 World Cup A Somali tycoon promised him $100,000 to make up for lost earnings, while the US Somali diaspora says it plans to raise $1 million in his supportshow more

Somalis stomp on the American Flag while holding a... photo of the referee who was denied entry to the U.S. for alleged ties to a terrorist organization at a protest in Somaliashow more

DR Congo super fan Lumumba was spotted in tears... after DR Congo’s defeat to England, which led to their elimination from the World Cup. 💔🇨🇩 Lumumba had only attended one match at the World Cup in Mexico. He did not get the chance to travel to the USA, as his visa was denied. #AfricanFootball #WorldCupwithMicky #FIFAWorldCupshow more

Iran's RAMIN REZAEIAN Makes World Cup HISTORY The 36-year-old... right back pounced on a loose ball in Seattle and buried it from an impossible angle to level Egypt 1-1. At 36 years, 97 days, he is now the oldest player ever to score for Iran at a World Cup. The goal was his third career World Cup strike, the most by any Iranian player. His third World Cup goal also appears to tie the highest known total by a primary right back in World Cup history.show more

In 2013 UEFA Super Cup, Chelsea lost to Bayern... Munich in a PK shoot-out after Hazard dropped a masterclass. At the end of the game, Mourinho told Chelsea fans to chant Hazard’s name instead of his own. What an amazing moment this was for Hazard.show more

🇸🇴Our boys are fresh from a morale boosting victory... over #Bahrain in an international friendly. Next up, as the competition begins, we face #Oman in the 2025 #FIFA #Arab #Cup.🇸🇴 Algeria are the defending champions. We are bringing this Cup home Somalia, Insha’Allah 🤞show more

It’s so sad to see that Omar Artan has... been denied entry into the USA for the 2026 World Cup.😔💔show more

The most ridiculous injury in World Cup history? This... is what the unluckiest day for a footballer looks like A broken arm, a yellow card, zero minutes on the pitch, and leaving on a stretcher — that was England midfielder Jordan Henderson’s match. He was injured while celebrating England’s qualification for the World Cup quarter-finals. Henderson tried to jump over an advertising board, tripped, and landed awkwardly. He had to be carried off on a stretcher. To make matters worse, despite spending the entire match on the bench, he still managed to receive a yellow card for arguing with the referee.show more

Never let a country like Qatar get a World... Cup ever again. The videos I am seeing of fans in Mexico and the US are amazing 😂 This is what a World Cup should be like. The football in Qatar was AMAZING but the atmosphere was soulless.show more

🚨 𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆: Teboho Mokoena has received a HERO’S WELCOME... in his hometown. 🏠🇿🇦 After an OUTSTANDING World Cup campaign, the community has turned out in full force to celebrate their SUPERSTAR. 'Tebza' is home, and he is a LEGEND. 👑✨show more

The first World Cup goal in Kansas City belongs... to Lionel Messi 🇦🇷 Two decades after his World Cup journey began, the Argentine icon adds a 14th World Cup goal to his résumé and gives Kansas City a moment it will never forget. 💛 #FIFAWorldCup #WeAreKansasCity #WeAre26show more

Last year, Paul Pogba told IShowSpeed that one of... the last things he wanted before retiring was to play at the 2026 World Cup Now the tournament starts tomorrow… and he didn’t make the France squad. He didn’t even get a chance to play his last World Cup💔🥹show more