#MOGADISHU, Somalia — The World Cup referee from Somalia who was denied entry to the United States after arriving in Miami and subsequently dropped from the tournament by FIFA was set to make history for his country.

Omar Artan was due to be the first referee from Somalia to officiate at the World Cup after making FIFA’s final list for the tournament, which was announced two months ago. He is one of Africa’s top referees and was named the continent’s best male referee in 2025 by the African soccer body.

He was denied entry at Miami International Airport on Saturday over “vetting concerns,” U.S. Customs and Border Protection said in a statement without giving details of those concerns. Artan was issued a visa to travel to the U.S. last week, according to the Somalia Embassy in Kenya that processed it.

The move to deny a FIFA-appointed match official permission to enter the World Cup is highly unusual. Artan was due to meet up with other World Cup referees at their training base in Miami.

The Somalia Sports and Youth Ministry said on Tuesday that it had not been told why Artan was denied entry and its embassy in the U.S. was making diplomatic efforts to resolve the problem and still allow Artan to referee at the World Cup, which opens on Thursday.

Somalia was one of the countries subjected to new travel restrictions last year under the Trump administration’s crackdown on immigration. That raised concerns that fans, players and officials from those countries — most of which are African — might be denied entry for the World Cup due to the larger crackdown despite having valid visas.
Artan subjected to ‘additional inspection’

“During processing, the traveller underwent additional inspection, a routine part of CBP’s inspection process when officers need to verify information or determine admissibility,” CBP said in its statement on Monday. “Following inspection, the traveller, a referee for the FIFA World Cup, was determined to be inadmissible due to vetting concerns and was denied entry.”

It didn’t name Artan and referred only to a Somali national who is a World Cup referee. Artan is the only Somali referee selected for the tournament.

CBP said all travellers seeking entry into the U.S. — including World Cup players, coaches and staff — were subject to CBP inspection and vetting.

“Admissibility determinations are made on a case-by-case basis using law enforcement, national security, and immigration information available at the time of inspection,” the CBP statement said. “CBP officers have the authority to question travellers, conduct inspections, and determine admissibility consistent with U.S. law.”
FIFA drops ref from World Cup

FIFA said it was not involved in the immigration processes and was informed by U.S. authorities that Artan’s “status will not be changed at present.” It said Artan wouldn’t be able to train and officiate at the World Cup.

“In line with previous FIFA events, a host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and who is admitted into their country,” FIFA said.

Still, FIFA and its president Gianni Infantino built close ties to U.S. President Donald Trump’s government as the U.S. prepared to co-host with Mexico and Canada, and had publicly stressed how that would help the World Cup run smoothly.

Infantino did not immediately comment on the issue, while FIFA released a statement on behalf of Artan.

“Despite the circumstances, I am in a positive mood and I am focused on the next challenges in my refereeing career,” Artan said in the statement. “I would like to thank FIFA and (the African soccer confederation) for all their support and I promise to keep my refereeing levels up as I concentrate on the future.

“I want to thank the football family for their messages and wish my colleagues all the best success during the World Cup and I look forward to joining them again in future competitions.”
He was to make history for Somalia

Artan was praised as one of Africa’s best referees and was the ref for the decisive leg of the African Champions League final last month — Africa’s biggest club soccer game.

He spoke in a recent interview with the Al Jazeera TV network about how he was honored to be selected to be the first Somali to referee at the World Cup and how he faced challenges in his conflict-torn country in East Africa, including sometimes having to change his route to training because of explosions in the streets of the capital, Mogadishu.

“You cannot give up as a referee,” Artan said in the interview. This (going to the World Cup) was my big, big target and I’m really excited."

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Omar Faruk and Gerald Imray, The Associated Press

Imray reported from Cape Town, South Africa. AP Sports Writer Graham Dunbar in Geneva contributed.

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The #International Cycling Union (UCI) has decided to allow Russian cyclists to participate in team events at international tournaments under a neutral status, UCI’s press office said in a statement.

The newly-announced regulations come into force starting on July 1, and they were backed by the European Cycling Federation (UEC) as well. Russian cyclists will be now able to participate in team races at the 2026 UEC Track Juniors European Championships in Germany’s Cottbus on July 7-12.

The ICU has also announced that it lifted all of its previously-imposed sanctions against Russia based on recommendations from the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

In December 2025, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board issued recommendations that allowed athletes in international federations from Russia and Belarus to participate in youth disciplines under the national flags and anthems. This recommendation applied to both individual and team sports. Numerous international sports federations followed the proposal.

Later on, some of the international sports federations decided to lift all previously imposed restrictions not only for youth athletes but for all athletes at various levels from Russia and Belarus.

For the second time in two days, a professional sports franchise in Dallas has announced plans to leave the city’s urban core

#Morocco’s heroics at the last World Cup mean they carry a heavy burden of expectation into this month’s tournament in #Canada, Mexico and the U.S., which threatens to hamper their chances.

VALLADOLID — The Canadian women’s rugby sevens team advanced to the semifinals of an HSBC SVNS World Championship Series tournament with a 40-5 quarterfinal victory over Japan on Saturday.

Canada takes on the United States and Australia faces New Zealand in Sunday’s semifinals with the medal games scheduled for later in the day.

Canadian captain Olivia Apps, Asia Hogan-Rochester, Florence Symonds, Charity Williams, Savannah Bauder and Adia Pye scored tries for Canada in the quarterfinal victory over Japan.

Apps contributed three conversions and Bauder two.

Canada and Japan traded possession through the opening four minutes before Apps broke through a gap near midfield and raced down the field to open the scoring.

Hogan-Rochester and Symonds each added tries before halftime as Canada built a 21-0 lead.

Williams scored her third try of the tournament early in the second half to make it 28-0.

With Japan pressing late, Williams forced a turnover near her own goal line and quickly moved the ball to Bauder, who sprinted 80 metres for another score.

Pye scored Canada’s final try after a Japanese handling error. Japan scored its lone try on the final play of the match.

Canada went undefeated in its pool with victories over host Spain, Great Britain and France.

Canada’s women, the Olympic silver medallists in 2024, placed fourth at the season-opening world championship leg in Hong Kong in April.

The world champions will be crowned in the third and final leg of the series June 5-7 in Bordeaux, France.


This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 28, 2026.

Paris St Germain (PSG) retained their Champions League title with a penalty shoot-out victory over Arsenal after a 1-1 draw in a cagey final in the Puskas Arena on Saturday.

Serena Williams wants to make comeback with #Canada’s #Mboko in doubles: report, The Telegraph reported Thursday that Williams, 44, plans to request a wild card to play doubles with Victoria Mboko, 19, of Canada in the Queen’s Club Championships next month in London. The tournament, which begins on June 8, serves as a grass-court tune-up for Wimbledon.

Williams had great success on the courts at Wimbledon, where she won seven singles titles. She also teamed with her sister, Venus Williams, for six doubles championships in London.

Serena Williams last played on the WTA Tour in a loss to Ajla Tomljanovic in the third round of the 2022 U.S. Open.

In her time away from tennis, Williams gave birth to her second daughter in August 2023.

She reportedly re-entered the registered testing pool for the International Tennis Integrity Agency in December. She has completed the mandatory six-month period in that pool.

The 23-time Grand Slam champion initially dismissed comeback rumors in December before slightly changing her tune during an appearance on the “Today” show in late January.

“I’m just having fun and enjoying my life right now,” Williams said, when asked on the show about a potential comeback. “That’s not a yes or no. I don’t know. I’m just gonna see what happens.”