2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off: Simon Jordan discusses US soccer growth
Talksport host Simon Jordan discusses the 2026 FIFA World Cup kickoff in Mexico and highlights its huge global and growing American influence. Jordan notes soccer’s rise to the third most popular sport in America, surpassing baseball and hockey. He is optimistic about the record-breaking tournament, which is expected to sell 6.5 million tickets despite previous World Cup challenges.
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A Somali WC A referee barred from entering the United States due to an alleged “association with suspected members of terrorist organisations” has been appointed to officiate at the 2026 UEFA Super Cup.
Omar Artan was denied entry to the United States days before the tournament started in North America by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) after being flagged for “derogatory” information, a Trump administration official told Pakinomist Digital.
Artan was denied entry to Miami International Airport on Saturday due to “assessment concerns,” CBP said in a statement. He was reportedly issued a visa to the United States last week, according to the Somali embassy in Kenya that processed it. He was supposed to meet with other referees for training at their base in Miami.
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The official FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand logo appears on the match ball during the Group B match between Australia and Ireland at Stadium Australia in Sydney on July 20, 2023. (Joe Prior/Visionhaus)
However, UEFA cited Artan’s officiating skills as the reason he will be on the pitch for the tournament.
“Omar Artan is an excellent young but already experienced referee who has proven himself at the highest level of competition in the Confederation of African Football,” UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin said in a statement. “Football is made to connect people and UEFA wishes to pay its respects to Omar and his exceptional refereeing skills which had earned him such a prestigious nomination. I am grateful to my friend CAF President Patrice Motsepe for enthusiastically supporting our initiative.”
CAF President Patrice Motsepe added: “Omar Artan has made Somalia and the entire people of the African continent extremely proud. His receipt of the CAF Men’s Referee of the Year Award 2025 and his appointment as a referee for the FIFA World Cup 2026 is a recognition of his world-class ability and for which I am grateful to the international referee for whom I am grateful to whom I have great respect for my friend. Aleksander Čeferin for making it possible Omar Artan to referee the UEFA Super Cup 2026 match. This is a great honor for Omar Artan and for African referees and is also an excellent example of football bringing together and uniting people from Africa and Europe and the world.”
Referee Omar Artan of Somalia is confronted by players after awarding a penalty kick during the CAF Champions League final between AS FAR Rabat and Mamelodi Sundowns in Rabat, Morocco on May 24, 2026. (Mosa’ab Elshamy/AP)
WHY WC 2026 SECURITY IS FAR MORE COMPLEX THAN A SUPER BOWL, ACCORDING TO A TOP SECURITY EXPERT
A Trump administration official said Artan “was denied admission and given immigration forms that provide the section of law used to complete an expedited removal under 8235 of the INA. President Trump’s administration will not allow any security threat to enter our country — period.”
He returned home to Somalia on Wednesday and thanked supporters.
“I promise you, God willing, I will participate in the next one,” he said. “I want the Somali public to take comfort in this and remain confident.”
Somalia is one of about three dozen countries subject to travel restrictions under the Trump administration as it has focused on illegal immigration. Artan was to be the first referee from Somalia to officiate at the World Cup and is among the best referees in Africa.
Judge Omar Artan is welcomed by supporters upon his arrival in Mogadishu, Somalia, on June 10, 2026, after being denied entry to the United States. (Farah Abdi Warsameh/Associated Press)
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The Super Cup will take place on August 12 between UEFA Champions League champions Paris Saint-Germain and UEFA Europa League champions Aston Villa.
