For Omar Artan, the road to one of the biggest assignments of his refereeing career has been marked by both disappointment and triumph. The 34-year-old Somali referee was selected for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a remarkable achievement that made him a symbol of Somalia’s growing presence on the global football stage. But his dream of officiating at the tournament was interrupted when he was not permitted to enter the United States. For a man who had spent years preparing for th