Jama Aden, the first Somali referee selected to officiate at a World Cup finals, will not be taking the pitch at the tournament after he was denied entry into the United States.
No official reason has been given for the refusal, but the consequence is clear: his name has been removed from the list of match officials, ending what would have been a historic milestone for Somali football.
The story raises uncomfortable questions about who gets to participate in the world's biggest sporting event, and whether visa politics will continue to shape the face of the game long after the final whistle.
Originally published by BBC Africa.