'Chill, relax' - Gianni Infantino responds to Somalian referee being denied USA entry for World Cup
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has urged patience after a Somali referee was denied entry into the United States for the 2026 World Cup. Despite holding valid documentation, the official was repatriated, leading to criticism of FIFA's inability to influence host country border policies.
Why it matters
The incident highlights the friction between international sporting events and the strict immigration policies of host nations, raising questions about FIFA's authority.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has controversially urged people to "chill and relax" after Somalian match official Omar Artan was denied entry to the United States for the upcoming World Cup. Infantino insisted that the governing body are not the "kings of the world" and cannot override strict border decisions, leaving the referee devastated and stranded ahead of the global showpiece.
The article presents both the FIFA president's perspective and the host country's defense of the decision.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in