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Omar Artan, who was set to be the first Somali to referee at the World Cup finals, has been dropped from the list of officials after he was denied entry to the United States, BBC reported. 

Artan, the 2025 Confederation of African Football (CAF) men's referee of the year, was barred from entering the country 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 ban list introduced by President Donald Trump's administration.

United States captain Tim Ream urged his teammates to embrace the pressure of a home World Cup on Monday, saying the tournament represents a once-in-a-career chance for the squad ahead of their ​opening match against Paraguay on Friday, Reuters reported. 

Speaking at the U.S. training base in Irvine, California, the defender said the co-hosts were well aware of the expectations surrounding them but insisted the players were putting the greatest demands on themselves.

Former UEFA president Michel Platini has launched civil and criminal legal proceedings in France against world soccer’s governing body FIFA and its current ​president Gianni Infantino over corruption allegations in 2015 that ended his bid to lead the organisation, Reuters reported. 

A criminal complaint filed in Paris accuses Infantino, former FIFA legal director Marco Villiger and former audit committee chairman Domenico Scala of malicious ​prosecution and influence peddling.

Spain beat Peru 3-1 in their final World Cup warm-up match on Monday, giving thousands of fans in Puebla ​a glimpse of one of the tournament favourites days before the global showpiece begins, Reuters reported. 

Mikel Oyarzabal opened the scoring after two minutes with a fierce strike from the edge of the area before Pedri doubled the lead after the half-hour mark, tapping into an empty net ​following a cross from Ferran Torres.