Jama Haji Mohamud was set to make history as the first Somali referee to officiate at a World Cup finals. That milestone will not happen now. He has been dropped from the official list of referees after being denied entry to the United States, where the 2026 tournament is being hosted.
No further details have been given about why he was refused entry, and FIFA has not publicly addressed the circumstances behind the decision.
The moment would have been significant, not just for Mohamud personally, but for Somali football and for the wider continent. Right now, questions remain about how this happened and whether anything can be done.
Originally published by BBC Africa.