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Ghana also saw their campaign come to a close after falling 1-0 to Colombia at Kansas Stadium. Jhon Arias struck in the 14th minute and his goal ultimately separated the two sides in a tightly contested match.
The FIFA World Cup and the Summer Games top the list with around 5 billion viewers each, followed by the Tour de France at 3.5 billion
In a statement issued on Thursday, June 11, UEFA said the appointment follows coordination with the Confédération Africaine de Football.
The incident has drawn attention in sporting and diplomatic circles, particularly given Artan’s rising profile in African football officiating and his recognition as CAF Referee of the Year 2025.
“Considering that this corrupt regime [the US] has assassinated our leader, under no circumstances can we participate in the World Cup,” the sports minister told state television on Wednesday.
Les Bleus players have successfully negotiated a doubling of their bonuses, and captain Kylian Mbappé also wants the support staff to have a share.
Tuchel has quickly come to view the prospect of leading England into a home European Championship as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Germany’s government has ruled out backing a boycott of the World Cup in North America, saying sport must stay separate from politics as tensions over the US–Greenland dispute ease.
Earlier this week, Iranian media outlet Varzesh 3 reported that US authorities had refused visas to key officials, including Mehdi Taj. While the US did grant entry to four members of the delegation, among them national team coach Amir Ghalenoei, the federation argued that selective approval amounted to unequal treatment and undermined fairness.
Omar Abdulkadir Artan is part of an exclusive team of referees selected for the global competition, representing Africa as the only official from Sub-Saharan Africa. His appointment marks a major milestone for Somali football and for African match officials at the international level.
This week, Uzbekistan and Jordan qualified for their first World Cups, while South Korea also secured their place at the tournament.
The draw for the expanded 48-team tournament, with six berths still to be filled via a series of playoffs, was hugely complicated due to various geographical sub-clauses.