2026 FIFA World Cup Kickoff: Simon Jordan discusses the growth of American soccer
Talksport presenter Simon Jordan discusses the 2026 FIFA World Cup kick-off in Mexico, highlighting its immense global and growing US influence. Jordan notes that football has become the third most popular sport in the United States, ahead of baseball and hockey. He is optimistic about the record tournament, which is expected to sell 6.5 million tickets, despite the difficulties encountered at the 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 United States days before the tournament kicked off in North America by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) after being flagged for “derogatory” information, a Trump administration official told PK Press Club Digital.
Artan was denied entry to Miami International Airport on Saturday due to “screening issues,” CBP said in a statement. He reportedly received a visa for the United States last week, according to the Somali embassy in Kenya which processed him. He was to meet 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)
UEFA, however, cited Artan’s refereeing skills as the reason he will be on the field for the tournament.
“Omar Artan is an excellent, already experienced young 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 about connecting people, and UEFA would like to show its respect to Omar and his exceptional refereeing skills, which have earned him such a prestigious appointment. I thank my friend CAF President Patrice Motsepe for enthusiastically supporting our initiative.”
CAF President Patrice Motsepe added: “Omar Artan has made Somalia and the entire African people extremely proud. His winning the 2025 CAF Male Referee of the Year award and his appointment as a referee for the 2026 FIFA World Cup is a recognition of his world-class refereeing abilities and the international respect he enjoys. I am very grateful to my friend Aleksander Ceferin for allowed Omar Artan to referee the 2026 UEFA Super Cup match. This is a great honor for Omar Artan and for African referees and it is also a great example of football, bringing together and uniting people from Africa, Europe and around the world.
Somali referee Omar Artan is confronted by players after ordering 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 SECURITY AT THE 2026 WORLD CUP IS MUCH MORE COMPLEX THAN A SUPER BOWL, ACCORDING TO A TOP SECURITY EXPERT
A Trump administration official said Artan “was denied admission and provided with immigration forms that provide the section of law used to conduct expedited removal under INA Section 8235. President Trump’s administration will not allow any security threats to enter our country – period.”
He returned to Somalia on Wednesday and thanked his supporters.
“I promise you, God willing, I will attend the next one,” he said. “I want the Somali public to be reassured by this and remain confident.”
Somalia is one of about three dozen countries subject to travel restrictions under the Trump administration as it focused on illegal immigration. Artan was to become 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, 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.
