Loading video...

Video Failed to Load

Go Home

Iran said its World Cup ticket allocation had been pulled days before the tournament begins, leaving fans in a fix, while the US denied entry to referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, who had been set to become the first Somali to officiate at a World Cup match

Reuters's profile picture

Reuters

26,049,933 subscribers

111,631 views • 1 month ago •via X (Twitter)

News & PoliticsSports
LIVE

Anya Rossi• Live Now

Private livecam show

0 Comments

No comments available

Comments from the original post will appear here

Related Videos

A top Somali referee will not officiate at the World Cup after being denied entry into the U.S. due to "vetting concerns". Omar Artan, who was set to become the first Somali to officiate at a World Cup match, was stopped by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol when arriving in Miami ahead of the tournament. Sky's Rob Harris reports. 🔗
1:19

A top Somali referee will not officiate at the World Cup after being denied entry into the U.S. due to "vetting concerns". Omar Artan, who was set to become the first Somali to officiate at a World Cup match, was stopped by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol when arriving in Miami ahead of the tournament. Sky's Rob Harris reports. 🔗

Sky News

62,684 views • 1 month ago

Award-winning Somali referee, Omar Abdulkadir Artan, has been removed from the World Cup roster after being denied entry to the US despite holding a valid visa.
0:26

Award-winning Somali referee, Omar Abdulkadir Artan, has been removed from the World Cup roster after being denied entry to the US despite holding a valid visa.

AJE Sport

53,329 views • 1 month ago

‼️Africa’s best referee denied entry into the US with only 3 days to the start of the FIFA World Cup‼️ Selected by FIFA to officiate, Omar Artan was set to make history as the first Somalian referee to officiate at a FIFA World Cup 💔
1:22

‼️Africa’s best referee denied entry into the US with only 3 days to the start of the FIFA World Cup‼️ Selected by FIFA to officiate, Omar Artan was set to make history as the first Somalian referee to officiate at a FIFA World Cup 💔

Xoli Zondo (BScHONS, MBA, PDM)

70,907 views • 1 month ago

➜ Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, who is denied entry into the US to officiate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, returns to his home country from Istanbul 'I wanted to thank FIFA for supporting me all the way and the Somali people also,' Omar Abdulkadir Artan says at Istanbul Airport ⤵︎
0:39

➜ Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, who is denied entry into the US to officiate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, returns to his home country from Istanbul 'I wanted to thank FIFA for supporting me all the way and the Somali people also,' Omar Abdulkadir Artan says at Istanbul Airport ⤵︎

Anadolu English

15,917 views • 1 month ago

Somali businessman Liban Ahmed Hassan gifts Somali referee Omar Artan $50,000 after he was denied entry to the US to officiate the 2026 World Cup matches.
0:34

Somali businessman Liban Ahmed Hassan gifts Somali referee Omar Artan $50,000 after he was denied entry to the US to officiate the 2026 World Cup matches.

KENYA GOSSIP HUB

79,626 views • 1 month ago

BBS Mall in Eastleigh, Nairobi, is hosting a grand community meet-and-greet to welcome internationally acclaimed Somali referee Omar Artan, who was denied entry to the US to officiate the ongoing World Cup.
0:55

BBS Mall in Eastleigh, Nairobi, is hosting a grand community meet-and-greet to welcome internationally acclaimed Somali referee Omar Artan, who was denied entry to the US to officiate the ongoing World Cup.

KENYA GOSSIP HUB

240,852 views • 27 days ago

Somali soccer referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan arrived in his home country's capital, Mogadishu, to a rapturous welcome by fans and officials, after he was denied entry into the United States ahead of the World Cup
1:02

Somali soccer referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan arrived in his home country's capital, Mogadishu, to a rapturous welcome by fans and officials, after he was denied entry into the United States ahead of the World Cup

Reuters

177,926 views • 1 month ago

Somali referee Omar Artan is denied entry to US, preventing him from becoming first Somali official to referee FIFA World Cup match as final preparations for tournament continue across US, Canada and Mexico
0:44

Somali referee Omar Artan is denied entry to US, preventing him from becoming first Somali official to referee FIFA World Cup match as final preparations for tournament continue across US, Canada and Mexico

TRT World Now

12,466 views • 1 month ago

A Somali referee selected for the 2026 FIFA World Cup was DENIED entry into the U.S. FIFA complied and dropped him! Omar Abdulkadir Artan was set to become the FIRST Somali official to referee there. Artan was voted one of Africa’s BEST referees and was traveling with a Kenyan DIPLOMATIC passport.
1:10

A Somali referee selected for the 2026 FIFA World Cup was DENIED entry into the U.S. FIFA complied and dropped him! Omar Abdulkadir Artan was set to become the FIRST Somali official to referee there. Artan was voted one of Africa’s BEST referees and was traveling with a Kenyan DIPLOMATIC passport.

Suppressed News.

20,053 views • 1 month ago

🚨|𝐍𝐄𝐖: 𝗔𝗻 𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝟳𝟬,𝟬𝟬𝟬 people have gathered at Mogadishu Stadium to welcome Somali international referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan following his arrival at Mogadishu’s Adan Abdulle International Airport. Omar Named as Africa's best referee last year, Artan officiated at the Africa Cup of Nations in 2023 and has been a Fifa referee since 2018. He was ... Omar Artan, who was set to be the first Somali to referee at the World Cup finals, has been dropped from the list of officials after he was denied entry to the United States. They destroyed the beautiful game.
0:42

🚨|𝐍𝐄𝐖: 𝗔𝗻 𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝟳𝟬,𝟬𝟬𝟬 people have gathered at Mogadishu Stadium to welcome Somali international referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan following his arrival at Mogadishu’s Adan Abdulle International Airport. Omar Named as Africa's best referee last year, Artan officiated at the Africa Cup of Nations in 2023 and has been a Fifa referee since 2018. He was ... Omar Artan, who was set to be the first Somali to referee at the World Cup finals, has been dropped from the list of officials after he was denied entry to the United States. They destroyed the beautiful game.

Abdikarin Dahir

255,722 views • 1 month ago

Ian Wright on the 2026 World Cup in the U.S: “Fans denied. Players denied. Officials denied. Journalists denied. Now REFEREES?” He CALLS OUT the U.S and calls it “a World Cup of CHAOS” after Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan was DENIED entry into the U.S. “Is this how the hosts behave for the greatest tournament in the world?”
1:33

Ian Wright on the 2026 World Cup in the U.S: “Fans denied. Players denied. Officials denied. Journalists denied. Now REFEREES?” He CALLS OUT the U.S and calls it “a World Cup of CHAOS” after Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan was DENIED entry into the U.S. “Is this how the hosts behave for the greatest tournament in the world?”

Suppressed News.

13,051 views • 1 month ago

Somali businessman and Galmudug presidential aspirant Liban Ahmed Hassan has donated $50,000 to Somali FIFA referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, following Artan’s denial of entry into the United States despite holding a valid visa to officiate at the FIFA World Cup.
0:20

Somali businessman and Galmudug presidential aspirant Liban Ahmed Hassan has donated $50,000 to Somali FIFA referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, following Artan’s denial of entry into the United States despite holding a valid visa to officiate at the FIFA World Cup.

The Daily Somalia

95,035 views • 1 month ago

Somali referee Omar Artan was blocked from entering the US, where he was set to become the first Somali to officiate at a FIFA World Cup. Despite the setback, he returned to a hero’s welcome in Mogadishu, with many saying his impact and legacy are only just beginning.
2:58

Somali referee Omar Artan was blocked from entering the US, where he was set to become the first Somali to officiate at a FIFA World Cup. Despite the setback, he returned to a hero’s welcome in Mogadishu, with many saying his impact and legacy are only just beginning.

AJE Sport

15,437 views • 1 month ago

JUST IN: ENGLAND LEGEND IAN WRIGHT LABELS US HOSTING OF THE 2026 WORLD CUP AS “WORLD CUP OF CHAOS” “Is this how the hosts behave for the greatest tournament in the world?” The English legend also called out Somali referee Omar Artan being denied entry into the US: “Fans denied. Players denied. Officials denied. Journalists denied. Now Referees?”
1:33

JUST IN: ENGLAND LEGEND IAN WRIGHT LABELS US HOSTING OF THE 2026 WORLD CUP AS “WORLD CUP OF CHAOS” “Is this how the hosts behave for the greatest tournament in the world?” The English legend also called out Somali referee Omar Artan being denied entry into the US: “Fans denied. Players denied. Officials denied. Journalists denied. Now Referees?”

Sulaiman Ahmed

340,375 views • 1 month ago

Somali referee Omar Artan denied entry into the United States and deported back to Turkey despite holding a valid U.S. visa and traveling with a diplomatic passport. Selected by FIFA to officiate at the World Cup, his sudden rejection at Miami International Airport.
3:24

Somali referee Omar Artan denied entry into the United States and deported back to Turkey despite holding a valid U.S. visa and traveling with a diplomatic passport. Selected by FIFA to officiate at the World Cup, his sudden rejection at Miami International Airport.

SportyFM Kenya

20,347 views • 1 month ago

Referee Omar Artan received a hero's welcome when he landed back in Somalia today 🇸🇴👏 The 34-year-old was set to make history as the first person from his country to officiate at a World Cup, but was denied entry. (via Nasra Bashir Ali)
0:29

Referee Omar Artan received a hero's welcome when he landed back in Somalia today 🇸🇴👏 The 34-year-old was set to make history as the first person from his country to officiate at a World Cup, but was denied entry. (via Nasra Bashir Ali)

Football on TNT Sports

864,020 views • 1 month ago

Thousands gathered in Mogadishu to welcome referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan after the US barred him from entering to officiate at the 2025 World Cup, calling him a security threat. Many in Somalia have denounced the move as discriminatory.
2:07

Thousands gathered in Mogadishu to welcome referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan after the US barred him from entering to officiate at the 2025 World Cup, calling him a security threat. Many in Somalia have denounced the move as discriminatory.

AJE Sport

24,309 views • 1 month ago

"Its not a world cup if you don't allow the world to come in!" Former referee, Christina Unkel, SLAMS decision to refuse Omar Artan entry to the US! Hawksbee & Jacobs
1:23

"Its not a world cup if you don't allow the world to come in!" Former referee, Christina Unkel, SLAMS decision to refuse Omar Artan entry to the US! Hawksbee & Jacobs

talkSPORT

173,401 views • 1 month ago

CAF Referee of the Year Omar Artan could miss the FIFA World Cup after reportedly being denied entry into the United States. The Somali referee is said to have been refused entry after arriving on a flight from Turkey and was subsequently sent back, raising serious concerns
1:30

CAF Referee of the Year Omar Artan could miss the FIFA World Cup after reportedly being denied entry into the United States. The Somali referee is said to have been refused entry after arriving on a flight from Turkey and was subsequently sent back, raising serious concerns

Football Intel Africa

10,246 views • 1 month ago

"We are a people who love life, who love football – before the war or after the war." Football fans in Gaza gathered on Thursday to watch the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. One fan slammed Trump's denial of entry to Somali referee Omar Artan, calling it a "racist decision by a racist president." But another fan stated that despite the US hosting the tournament, "the success of the World Cup depends on the whole world."
1:20

"We are a people who love life, who love football – before the war or after the war." Football fans in Gaza gathered on Thursday to watch the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. One fan slammed Trump's denial of entry to Somali referee Omar Artan, calling it a "racist decision by a racist president." But another fan stated that despite the US hosting the tournament, "the success of the World Cup depends on the whole world."

BreakThrough News

11,357 views • 1 month ago