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Omar Artan given hero’s welcome in Somalia after referee’s US entry blocked

  • Artan deemed a threat to national security by US officials

  • ‘I promise you that I will attend the next one’

The World Cup referee from Somalia who was denied entry to the US arrived on Wednesday in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, where he was received by a crowd of supporters and officials.

Omar Artan was due to be the first referee from Somalia to officiate at a World Cup after making Fifa’s final list for the tournament. He is one of Africa’s top referees and was named the continent’s best male referee in 2025.

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© Photograph: Feisal Omar/Reuters

© Photograph: Feisal Omar/Reuters

© Photograph: Feisal Omar/Reuters

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Nike charges World Cup fans the most for replica shirts after price surge

England supporters face paying inflation-busting £95 for an adult shirt as the tournament begins in the US

Fans of World Cup teams kitted out by Nike face the highest costs if they want to buy a replica shirt before the tournament kicks off this week amid a “striking” overall increase in prices.

Alongside the official match versions, which are retailing for as much as €160, manufacturers typically make “stadium”, or replica, versions aimed at supporters.

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© Photograph: Eddie Keogh/The FA/Getty

© Photograph: Eddie Keogh/The FA/Getty

© Photograph: Eddie Keogh/The FA/Getty

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Roger Bennett on what to expect at the World Cup

The countdown is on to the start of the World Cup. The tournament is the biggest in the event's history, with 48 teams competing across the United States, Canada and Mexico. But organizers have faced criticism over ticket prices and geopolitical tensions have complicated travel for some teams and their supporters. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Roger Bennett of Men in Blazers.

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Paxton investigating FIFA over World Cup ticket prices in Texas

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) on Tuesday announced an investigation into FIFA over allegations that some World Cup ticket holders were misled about the locations and quality of seats they purchased for upcoming matches. The probe comes days before World Cup matches are set to begin in Houston and Arlington on Sunday.  Fans who…

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Paxton investigating FIFA over World Cup ticket prices in Texas

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) on Tuesday announced an investigation into FIFA over allegations that some World Cup ticket holders were misled about the locations and quality of seats they purchased for upcoming matches. The probe comes days before World Cup matches are set to begin in Houston and Arlington on Sunday.  Fans who…

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US stadium and hotel workers threaten strikes ‘to make things fair’ during World Cup

Low wages and fears of ICE crackdowns have set workers on edge of strike as thousands set to arrive during World Cup

Hospitality and food service workers in several US cities hosting World Cup games are warning of looming labor disputes and possible strikes as the largest single sport tournament in the world gets ready to kick off on 11 June.

In Los Angeles, California, cashiers, dishwashers, cooks, bartenders, concessions workers and food attendants at the SoFi stadium reached a tentative agreement on Tuesday afternoon, but the union noted it had a contractual right to walk off the job if it determines that federal immigration enforcement is threatening worker safety during the World Cup. The US’s opening match, against Paraguay, is scheduled to take place at SoFi Stadium – rebranded as the Los Angeles Stadium for the tournament – on 12 June.

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© Photograph: Patrick T Fallon/AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: Patrick T Fallon/AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: Patrick T Fallon/AFP/Getty Images

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The criminal cartels cashing in on the World Cup – podcast

Football fans are celebrating the tournament coming to Guadalajara. But with a brutal crime syndicate holding sway there, what are the risks for fans – and the government?

Excitement is mounting in Mexico as the World Cup opens in Mexico City, then heads to the city of Guadalajara.

Mexican journalist Leon Krauze is a fan. He was there the last time the World Cup came to Mexico and will be watching again. The city of Guadalajara has a mythical footballing past: “Pele’s Brazil played there in 1970, then Zico and Socrates played there in 1986. There is a real football memory there, a love affair between Guadalajara and football in general, and I expect it to be a wonderful party.”

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© Photograph: Ulises Ruiz/AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: Ulises Ruiz/AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: Ulises Ruiz/AFP/Getty Images

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