FIFA WORLD PEACE PRIZE.....and WORLD CUP.

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WORLD CUP REFEREE BANNED FROM THE USA.

Somali referee Omar Artan...the 2025 Confederation of African Football men's referee of the year was barred from entering the USA at Miami International Airport.....and is currently in Turkey.

No reason for Artan's repatriation has been issued by US immigration Authorities....but Somalia is one of several countries on a travel list introduced by President Donald Trump's administration.

Artan is among the 52 referees announced by FIFA to officiate at the World Cup Finals in Canada...Mexico & the United States....which runs from 12th June to 19th July.

BBC News...08/06/2026.
 
Plymborn said:
WORLD CUP REFEREE BANNED FROM THE USA.

Somali referee Omar Artan...the 2025 Confederation of African Football men's referee of the year was barred from entering the USA at Miami International Airport.....and is currently in Turkey.

No reason for Artan's repatriation has been issued by US immigration Authorities....but Somalia is one of several countries on a travel list introduced by President Donald Trump's administration.

Artan is among the 52 referees announced by FIFA to officiate at the World Cup Finals in Canada...Mexico & the United States....which runs from 12th June to 19th July.

BBC News...08/06/2026.
Click to expand...

Somali referee Omar Artan says he was subjected to an 11-hour immigration interview before being denied entry to the United States for the World Cup despite holding the "right papers" and "right visa".

After speaking to the US authorities...world governing body Fifa said Artan will miss the tournament.

"i am very ...very disappointed..."Artan told the New York Times"...."I'm just simply a referee who's trying to live his dream...the biggest dream of my life...to come to the World Cup".

BBC News...09/06/2026.


Fifa give in to the big Trump bully boys.
 
There has always been real concerns that supporters would have difficulties getting into the United States for the 2026 World Cup.

But not a Referee.

The tournament is supposed to bring together the best of the best in football....players...coaches and officials.

Omar Artan is the number one referee from Africa...He will not be allowed to officiate at the World Cup.

Artan...from Somalia...flew into Miami to join up with the other 51 referees...After what he says was an 11-hour grilling by immigration officials...he was put back on a plane.

"It is pretty clear that the fears of an ideological and discriminatory visa policy from the US government is being realized"...said Piara Powar...executive director of discrimination campaign group Fare.

Concerns remain about the potential presence of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at stadiums...and how fans could be effected.

With 48 hours still to go until the World Cup kicks off...does Fifa have little control about what will happen outside the stadiums.

BBC News...09/06/2026.


Fifa are just becoming Donald Trumps pawns in this tournament....which is supposed to be a show case to the world.... of world football.
 
I see that large numbers of ICE personnel will be deployed to World Cup venues. As we’ve seen in previous events, they’re hardly the most disciplined and well trained force, just thugs that like to beat up those with different skin colour - or worse given they carry firearms.

This is a bit of an odd one as all visiting fans will have bought and paid for tickets and passed through immigration very recently. Are American controls so poor as to require that? It does open up the possibility of fans being hassled and perhaps arrested at the stadia. That’ll look good on TV.
 
World Cup...0-3...Red Cards.

I think that two of those red cards last night where debatable ......if that is setting the standard of refereeing....then we're going to run out of players before the final.
 
Thinking about it, the journos let Infantino off the hook. It's all very well saying FIFA can't control everything, but the obvious question is whether Infantino thinks Artan IS a terrorist.

Personally, I don't think so. Yes, he lives in a part of the world where things are rather different and the chances of being in contact with dubious characters inadvertently is higher than in the North America or Europe or Australasia. The fact that he's been in proximity to people like that doesn't make him a fellow-traveller, never mind an actual terrorist.
 
USA...4-1...Paraguay.....so the USA start their march to be World Cup champions.....ok that does seem to be a fantasy wish....BUT this is Donald Trump's World Cup and his America......He has already been given a peace prize by Fifa.....maybe it isn't just fantasy that he will be given

So all three host countries are on their way....Mexico & the USA start with wins and Canada a draw.

This is football's top twenty ranking list as of June 2026.

1......Argentina.
2......Spain.
3......France.
4......England........................I'm not sure we are good value for 4th ?
5......Portugal.
6......Brazil.
7......Morocco.
8......Netherlands.
9......Belgium.
10.....Germany.
11.....Croatia...........England's first game.....dodgy start.
12.....Italy..........not at the WC.
13.....Mexico.
14.....Colombia.
15.....USA.
16.....Senegal.
17.....Uruguay.
18.....Japan.
19.....Switzerland.
20.....IR Iran.


These teams did not qualify.
12.....Italy.
21.....Denmark.
26.....Nigeria.
32.....Ukraine.
35.....Russia........probably thrown out anyway.
36.....Poland.
37.....Wales.
38.....Hungary.

The USA group include Turkey.....Australia.....Paraguay.....they have already beaten the best of these....so should qualify for the next stage.
 
Nice to see Bradley Wright-Phillips (41 yrs old now) on ITV Sport in New York talking football.

Had a fantastic career in the States scoring 108 goals in 195 games for New York Red Bulls.

Was one of my favourites when at Argyle.....only played 32 games and scored 17 goals.....if I remember he had to limit his training because of a knee injury.....disappointed when he left for Charlton......who would have guessed that his career would blossom so when he went to the States.....ended up in there hall of fame......he's lived over there for the last 13 yrs.
 
Scotland beat Haiti 1-0.......and you would think that Scotland had just won the World Cup.

Haiti are the second lowest FIFA ranked team at these championships... they're 83rd.....only NZ (85th) are lower.

Also in this group are Brazil ( 6th in world rankings) and Morocco ( 7th).....so Scotland have a long way to go yet.
 
England start the World Cup with a defeat.....they've had a lot of their World Cup kit stolen.
 
Is it an omen?

Lewis Hamilton, after P2 in Monaco, wins the Spanish Grand Prix, followed by George Russell and Lando Norris.

Just the Union Jacks required then chaps…..
 
Germany couldn't have had an easier start.... even if they had chosen their opposition themselves......Curacao a small Caribbean island with a population of approximately 150,000........they are three places above N Zealand in FIFA's world rankings......82nd to 85th.
 
I have to say that after getting swept up by the hype, the increase in the number of teams in the competition has done little to produce matches that persuade me to stay up late to watch.
 
notDistantGreen said:
I have to say that after getting swept up by the hype, the increase in the number of teams in the competition has done little to produce matches that persuade me to stay up late to watch.
Click to expand...

Also there is also a little unfairness in some of these matches.....most games are subjected to the intense heat.....but some....I think two yesterday alone where in enclosed air-conditioned stadiums making the games easier to endure.
 
Yes but don’t forget the US is a huge place. It’s very different playing in Miami than in New York. I’m not sure if the AC is distributed on that basis but certainly the need is greater in the South.
 
One hour to kick-off.....I would be please for an England win.....but I don't feel very confident that it will happen.....whatever happens the one thing that mustn't happen is a defeat.....Croatia are one of the more accomplished teams.

Starting eleven is....

..............................................................Pickford
........,,.,,.......James............Konsa ........................Stones...........O'Reilly
...............................Anderson....................................Rice
.........................Madueke...............Bellingham................Gordon
.............................................................Kane
 
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