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.
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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."
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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.
