Omar Abdulkadir Artan, the first Somali referee ever selected to officiate at a World Cup, was denied entry to the United States without explanation by the Trump administration.
He now watches the tournament from outside the country.
Artan, named Africa's best male referee last year and FIFA-accredited since 2018, expressed deep disappointment.
"I'm just simply a referee who's trying to live his dream – the biggest dream of my life, to come to the World Cup," he told the New York Times.
Somalia's President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud called Artan "a symbol of inspiration for the new generation of Somalis."
However, Andrew Giuliani, head of the White House taskforce on the World Cup, defended the decision, saying it was "the right decision by customs and border patrol."
FIFA's Toothless Response
FIFA has forced previous World Cup hosts like South Africa and Germany to guarantee visas for accredited officials.
Yet the US appears exempt from such requirements.
FIFA's response was weak: "FIFA is not involved in host country immigration processes, including visa adjudications," it stated.
"A host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and who is admitted into their country."
Critics argue that FIFA's commercial drive has compromised its principles. The organization projects $8.9 billion in revenue from this tournament, double the 2024 Olympics.
With 48 teams and 104 matches, the expansion is a massive commercial exercise.
Iran's fan ticket allocation was revoked, its training base moved from Arizona to Mexico City, and several backroom staff denied visas.
The International Sports Press Association condemned "the denial of entry visas to regularly accredited colleagues," noting countless cases affecting Iranian and African journalists.
A record 10 African countries are represented at this World Cup, a milestone for inclusion. FIFA has invested over $1.2 billion in African football since 2016.
Yet the expansion also secures political loyalty from Africa's 54 voting nations, who represent 25% of FIFA's membership.
Somali officials said barring Artan "undermines football's commitment to fairness, merit, and the spirit of fair play."
FIFA's leadership, under Gianni Infantino, has remained silent, prioritizing commercial gains over the values of the global game.
