US denies entry to Somali referee, Iran says US revoked World Cup ticket allocation
Controversies emerge ahead of the World Cup, with the US denying entry to a Somali referee and Iran claiming its ticket allocation for supporters was revoked.
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Preparations for the FIFA World Cup 2026 are currently facing notable challenges concerning international participation and fan access, just days before the tournament's scheduled start on June 11. These issues include a Somali referee being denied entry into the United States and Iran's official ticket allocation being revoked for its supporters.
Somali referee Omar Artan will be unable to officiate at the World Cup after U.S. Customs and Border Protection denied him entry, citing "vetting concerns." Artan, the only World Cup referee from Somalia, was turned back at Miami International Airport, with FIFA confirming his exclusion from the tournament.
Adding to the controversies, Iran's football federation announced that its allocation of tickets for its World Cup group matches has been withdrawn by the United States. The federation accuses the U.S. of hindering Iranian fans' attendance amidst an ongoing diplomatic dispute, leaving many supporters who had already made travel arrangements unable to secure tickets.
What each outlet emphasizes
- BBC: reports on Somali referee Artan being barred from entering the US ahead of the World Cup
- AJ: highlights Iran's claim that the US revoked World Cup ticket allocation for their supporters and the US confirming denial of entry to the Somali referee
- AP: notes FIFA and Infantino drawing bipartisan skepticism ahead of the World Cup
Read it at the source
sfgate.com ↗ aljazeera.com ↗ yardbarker.com ↗ cbc.ca ↗ skysports.com ↗