2026 FIFA World Cup begins: Simon Jordan analyzes the growth of American soccer
Talksport presenter Simon Jordan discusses the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Mexico, highlighting its immense global and growing US influence. Jordan highlights the rise of soccer to the third most popular sport in the United States, surpassing baseball and hockey. He is optimistic about the record-breaking tournament, expected to sell 6.5 million tickets, despite the challenges of the last World Cup.
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a somali world cup The referee who was banned from entering the United States due to alleged “association with suspected members of terrorist organizations” has been appointed to officiate the 2026 UEFA Super Cup.
Omar Artan was denied entry into the US days before the tournament began in North America by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) after being flagged for “derogatory” information, a Trump administration official told Pak Gazette Digital.
Artan was denied entry to Miami International Airport on Saturday due to “investigative 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 scheduled to meet with other referees to train at his Miami base.
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The official FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand logo appears on the ball during the Group B match between Australia and Ireland at Stadium Australia in Sydney on July 20, 2023. (Joe Prior/Visionhaus)
UEFA, however, cited Artan’s refereeing skills as the reason he will be on the field during the tournament.
“Omar Artan is an excellent young but already experienced referee, who has proven his worth in the highest competitions of the African Football Confederation,” UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin said in a statement. “Football is meant to connect people, and UEFA wants to show its respect to Omar and his outstanding refereeing skills, which earned him such a prestigious nomination. I thank my friend, CAF President Patrice Motsepe, for enthusiastically supporting our initiative.”
CAF President Patrice Motsepe added: “Omar Artan has made Somalia and all the people of the African continent extremely proud. His receipt of the 2025 CAF Male Referee of the Year Award and his appointment as the 2026 FIFA World Cup referee is a recognition of his world-class refereeing ability and the international respect he enjoys. I am very grateful to my friend, Aleksander Čeferin, for allowing him Omar Artan to officiate the UEFA Super Bowl Cup Match 2026. 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, Europe and around the world.”
Referee Omar Artan of Somalia faces the players after giving a penalty 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 2026 WORLD CUP SECURITY IS MUCH MORE COMPLEX THAN A SUPER BOWL, ACCORDING TO A LEADING SECURITY EXPERT
A Trump administration official said Artan “was denied admission and given immigration forms that provide the section of the law used to complete an expedited removal under INA 8235. President Trump’s administration will not allow any security threats to enter our country, period.”
He returned home to Somalia on Wednesday and thanked his supporters.
“I promise you, God willing, that I will attend the next one,” he said. “I want the Somali public to feel comfortable with this and maintain trust.”
Somalia is one of three dozen countries subject to travel restrictions under the Trump administration as it has focused on illegal immigration. Artan was to be the first Somali referee to officiate at the World Cup and is among the best referees in Africa.
Referee Omar Artan is greeted by supporters upon his arrival in Mogadishu, Somalia, on June 10, 2026, after being denied entry into 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 champion Paris Saint-Germain and UEFA Europa League champion Aston Villa.
