The first Somali picked to referee a World Cup rose from Mogadishu's pitches, only to be barred at the US border.
Hero’s welcome for Somali referee denied entry to US World Cup tournament
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Story Timeline
Mon 21:37 - La Libre (BE)
Referee removed from 2026 World Cup after being refused entry to the United States
Mon 22:23 - Sky News (UK)
Top referee to miss World Cup after US denies him entry
Tue 00:05 - Washington Examiner
US denies entry to World Cup referee from Somalia over ‘vetting concerns’
Wed 05:46 - Washington Examiner
World Cup referee denied entry to the US due to ties to ‘members of terror organizations’
Wed 09:56 - France 24
World Cup ref denied entry to the US was about to make history for Somalia
Wed 10:36 - Fox News
Somali World Cup ref barred from US for 'association with suspected members of terror organizations': official
Wed 12:15 - Al Jazeera English
Hero’s welcome for Somali referee denied entry to US World Cup tournament