Somali football referee Omar Artan was prevented from officiating matches at the World Cup after being denied entry into the United States. He was scheduled to oversee multiple games during the tournament. The reason for the denial stems from a US travel ban, the specifics of which were not detailed in the report. This decision effectively removed Artan from World Cup officiating duties. The incident raises questions about the impact of travel restrictions on international sporting events and the ability of officials from certain countries to participate. No replacement referee has been publicly named at this time. The situation highlights potential logistical challenges for global competitions involving participants from nations subject to travel limitations.