Somali referee Omar Artan, who was poised to become the first official from Somalia to referee at the FIFA World Cup finals, has been denied entry into the United States.

Artan, who was named the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Men’s Referee of the Year in 2025, was reportedly stopped by immigration authorities upon arrival at Miami International Airport. He has since traveled to Turkey after being denied admission.

United States immigration officials have not publicly provided a reason for the decision. However, the development comes amid travel restrictions affecting several countries, including Somalia, under policies introduced by the administration of Donald Trump.

Artan had been selected by FIFA as one of 52 match officials chosen to oversee games at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which is being jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico from June 12 to July 19.

A respected figure in Somali football, Artan has served as an official in the country’s national league and earned FIFA referee status in 2018. Over the years, he has built a strong reputation on the continent, officiating matches at the prestigious Africa Cup of Nations and other major competitions.

The incident has raised questions about the impact of travel restrictions on international sporting events, particularly as the United States prepares to host the world’s biggest football tournament alongside its North American partners. FIFA has yet to comment publicly on how Artan’s exclusion could affect its officiating plans for the competition.

The Netherlands have suffered a significant setback ahead of the FIFA World Cup after defender Jurrien Timber was ruled out of the tournament due to a groin injury.

Timber, 24, has been struggling with the issue since mid-March and has not recovered sufficiently to participate in the competition, according to the Royal Dutch Football Association.

The defender had recently returned to action, making his first appearance in more than two months when he came off the bench during the UEFA Champions League final in Budapest on 30 May. He entered the match in the 66th minute against Paris Saint-Germain, marking his first appearance since a victory over Everton on 14 March.

Before the Champions League final, Mikel Arteta had indicated that Timber was fit enough to be involved.

However, after further medical assessment with the Dutch national team, officials concluded that the defender would not be able to take part in the World Cup safely.

The KNVB said Timber had “not recovered sufficiently” to compete in the tournament in a medically responsible manner.

“In consultation with the medical staff, it has therefore been decided that Timber will leave the national team’s pre-camp in New York after the friendly game against Uzbekistan,” the federation said in a statement.

Timber has been an important member of the Dutch squad since making his international debut in June 2021 and has earned 23 caps for the national team.

To replace him, Netherlands head coach Ronald Koeman has called up defender Lutsharel Geertruida. The 25-year-old spent last season on loan at Sunderland from RB Leipzig.

The Dutch will begin their World Cup campaign against Japan on 14 June before facing Sweden and Tunisia in the remaining Group F fixtures.

Timber’s absence is a major blow for the Oranje, who had hoped the versatile defender would play a key role in their bid for World Cup success.

Christian Eriksen is recovering well and remains in good spirits after collapsing during Denmark’s international match against Ukraine, according to the team’s doctor.

The match in Odense was halted in the 65th minute after Eriksen suddenly collapsed on the pitch. Play was subsequently abandoned, although the 34-year-old was able to leave the field on foot after regaining consciousness.

Team doctor Morten Boesen provided a positive update on Monday, saying he had spoken with Eriksen and that the midfielder was recovering comfortably with his family.

“I spoke with Christian this morning, and he is doing well. He is with his family and in good spirits,” Boesen said.

“The expectation is that he will be discharged soon and can return home.”

Eriksen has been playing with an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) since suffering a cardiac arrest during Denmark’s match against Finland at UEFA Euro 2020 in 2021.

The device, a specialized heart monitor and defibrillator, was fitted following the life-threatening incident and enabled Eriksen to resume his professional career eight months later with Brentford before subsequent spells with Manchester United and German side VfL Wolfsburg.

Boesen revealed that the ICD activated correctly during Sunday’s incident, saying the device “responded as it should.”

An ICD continuously monitors a person’s heart rhythm and can automatically deliver treatment if it detects a dangerous abnormal heartbeat that could lead to cardiac arrest.

According to sports cardiologist Aneil Malhotra, the device can rapidly identify life-threatening rhythms and administer an electric shock when necessary to restore a normal heartbeat, significantly reducing response times during emergencies.

Eriksen’s original collapse at Euro 2020 became one of football’s most dramatic medical emergencies and sparked widespread discussions about cardiac screening and player safety.

Several other footballers have experienced serious heart-related incidents in recent decades. Former Fabrice Muamba suffered a cardiac arrest during a match in 2012 and later retired on medical advice. Marc-Vivien Foe tragically died after collapsing during a match in 2003.