If Thomas Partey is unable to enter the host country on 17 June 2026 and misses a World Cup match, Ghana is weakened before a single ball is kicked—not because of tactics, talent, preparation, or determination, but because of administrative barriers beyond its control.
This is no longer a hypothetical concern.
Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan was selected to become the first Somali official to referee at a FIFA World Cup. Yet his journey ended before it began when he was denied entry despite holding a valid visa.
Senegal, too, has faced travel and immigration-related challenges surrounding the tournament, raising concerns that access to the world’s biggest sporting event may not be equal for all participants.
If the World Cup is truly the world’s game, then every qualified nation must have an equal opportunity to compete with its full squad and officials. FIFA cannot leave this to chance. Host nations must provide clear, binding guarantees that all accredited players, coaches, referees, and officials receive timely, fair, and non-discriminatory entry.
The World Cup should be decided by goals, not gatekeepers; by performances on the pitch, not decisions at the border.
And to African leaders: true sovereignty is not measured by speeches or summits. It is measured by the strength of your passport, the credibility of your institutions, and the respect your citizens command abroad. Build nations so strong that no African athlete, referee, student, entrepreneur, or traveler has to wonder whether they will be allowed to take their rightful place on the world stage.
By Selassie Atsutse
