Somali Referee Denied US Visa, Barred from World Cup Assignment

—A Somali soccer referee who had been assigned to officiate at the 2026 FIFA World Cup was denied a US visa, preventing him from fulfilling the prestigious appointment. The case is one of several involving officials and journalists from Muslim-majority countries who have encountered visa difficulties for the US-hosted tournament. FIFA and sporting officials have raised concerns about the impact of US immigration policy on the global character of the World Cup. The incident drew criticism from human rights organizations as an example of discriminatory visa application of travel restrictions.