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White House justifies exclusion of Somali referee and Iranian officials from World Cup
via SeneNews2 min read
Andrew Giuliani, head of the White House team organizing the World Cup, stated on Tuesday that the denial of entry to a Somali referee and the refusal of visas to Iranian team officials were for "good reasons." Somali referee Omar Artan was turned away upon arrival despite holding a US entry visa, with FIFA later announcing he would not officiate. Additionally, about fifteen members of the Iranian team's staff were denied US visas. Giuliani noted that 35 teams have entered the US without issue, and no players or coaches have been denied access. He emphasized that the exclusions were to prevent "malicious actors from coming into the country under the guise of the World Cup," which begins on Thursday. While unable to provide specific details on Artan's case, Giuliani mentioned discussions with the Secretary of Homeland Security, Markwayne Mullin, and the head of Customs and Border Protection. CBP justified Artan's denial due to "background check issues." Regarding the Iranian officials, Giuliani stated that while all Iranian team coaching staff can enter, some officials cannot, again for "very good reasons." He suggested that some individuals claiming to be coaches might not be, possibly including those "working directly with the Revolutionary Guards." Due to visa uncertainties stemming from the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, the Iranian team relocated its base camp from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana, Mexico, despite playing its group matches in the United States.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by SeneNews.
Senegal is set to play Saudi Arabia in a crucial final preparatory match for the 2026 World Cup. The Lions, who are the reigning African champions, are looking to regain confidence after a 3-2 defeat against the United States in their previous match. This friendly encounter will allow the team, led by Pape Thiaw, to make final adjustments before the start of the tournament. SeneNews is providing live coverage of the match, which is taking place two days before the World Cup kicks off.
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