The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off later tonight with one of the host nations, Mexico, set to face South Africa in a rematch of the tournament’s opening fixture from 16 years ago.
However, the build-up to the competition has been overshadowed by controversy, particularly surrounding the reported denial of entry into the United States for Somali referee Omar Artan. Artan, who was poised to become the first Somali official to officiate at the World Cup, was reportedly refused entry despite holding what he believed to be a valid visa. Somalia is among the countries affected by the U.S. travel restrictions.
The development has sparked widespread criticism across the football community. In response, FIFA President Gianni Infantino has called for calm, stating that the governing body is actively engaging with the relevant authorities to resolve the matter. While describing the situation as unfortunate, Infantino emphasized that public outrage may not contribute to finding a solution. 
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Super Eagles suffered a 2-1 defeat to tournament favourites Portugal in an international friendly played on the eve of the competition.
