With the 2026 FIFA World Cup set to kick off in the United States on June 11, the tournament is already generating controversy off the pitch. Omar Abdulkadir Artan, a Somali referee who officiated Africa Cup of Nations matches last year, says his World Cup dream has been “dashed” after the US denied him entry.
The case spotlights the collision between America’s role as host of the world’s biggest sporting event and the Trump administration’s restrictive immigration and travel policies. For Artan, the denial is deeply personal — years of climbing FIFA’s officiating ranks undone at a border checkpoint.
Norway’s national team coach Ståle Solbakken also voiced frustration ahead of the tournament, calling Scotland’s last-minute cancellation of a pre-World Cup friendly “disgraceful” and unprofessional. Norway opens its campaign against Iraq on June 17 and had planned the match as a final tune-up.
