Messi sparkles on return as Somali referee says dream over

LOS ANGELES: Lionel Messi marked his return from injury with a goal off the bench as Argentina beat Iceland 3-0 in their final World Cup warm-up on Tuesday, while tournament preparations were overshadowed by controversy over the treatment of Somali referee Omar Artan and fresh protest concerns in Mexico City.

Messi, 38, had not played in Argentina's pre-tournament fixtures after suffering a hamstring injury while on club duty with Inter Miami in late May. He entered the match against Iceland in Auburn, Alabama, with 20 minutes remaining in front of a full crowd of 88,000.

Soon after coming on, Messi threaded a pass through to Lautaro Martinez, who was brought down in the penalty area. The Argentina captain then converted the spot-kick as the defending champions completed a comfortable 3-0 victory. Argentina, who won their third World Cup title in Qatar four years ago, begin their campaign on June 16 against Algeria in Kansas City.

The World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico starts on Thursday. The expanded tournament, featuring 48 teams, has faced several issues before kick-off, including the barring of some fans and officials from entry, high ticket prices and a reversal by FIFA after it initially prohibited supporters from taking refillable water bottles into stadiums.

Somali referee turned back

Somali referee Omar Artan said his hopes of taking part in the tournament had been shattered after he was denied entry to the United States. Speaking from Istanbul after being refused entry in Miami, he said he had been subjected to lengthy questioning and detention before being sent back to Turkiye.

"I am very, very disappointed," Artan said. “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.”

He said US border officials interviewed him for 11 hours at Miami International Airport, after which he was placed in a holding cell for several more hours before being deported. Artan added that he had valid documentation.

"I had the right papers and everything. I had the right visa," he said.

A US State Department official told AFP that Artan was allegedly linked to suspected members of terrorist organisations, which the official said made him ineligible for admission to the United States.

Artan, who was named the Confederation of African Football's men's referee of the year in 2025, would have become the first Somali official to referee at a World Cup. He said the setback would not end his ambitions. "I will be at the next World Cup and will continue to make Somalia proud… Despite what has happened to me, I am not discouraged," Artan told journalists.

Mexico City protest concerns

In Mexico City, concern grew that social unrest could affect Thursday's opening match between Mexico and South Africa at the Estadio Azteca. On Tuesday, demonstrators blocked an avenue leading to the stadium as the capital continued to see large-scale teacher protests.

Thousands joined the latest protest after a week of action that President Claudia Sheinbaum described as a provocation.

"As if to say, ‘Look at how bad the situation is in Mexico,’" Sheinbaum told a press conference.

A police cordon stopped protesters from reaching the stadium. Sheinbaum said the opening match was guaranteed to go ahead, while again rejecting the use of police force to suppress the demonstrations. Her administration has pursued talks with the protesting teachers, but without success so far.

"We’re going to continue our struggle,"protester Austreberto Flores said.

With thousands of security personnel deployed and concrete barriers installed around the venue, the protesters remained on the street for about three hours before dispersing. Mexico City's security chief Pablo Vazquez said in a statement that the demonstration had remained peaceful.

The teachers have called for more protests on Thursday, which are also expected to include families of the so-called disappeared, described as people alleged to have been killed or kidnapped by Mexican authorities or criminal gangs.

Other warm-up results

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni used an experimental starting side against Iceland, leaving Julian Alvarez, Enzo Fernandez, Alexis Mac Allister and Messi out of the initial line-up. Alongside Spain, France and England, Argentina are regarded among the favourites for the title, and Messi is set to play in his sixth World Cup.

Elsewhere on Tuesday, the Democratic Republic of Congo lost 2-1 to Chile in France in a warm-up game played behind closed doors. The match had originally been scheduled for a city in southern Spain, but the mayor declined to host it because of concerns related to the Ebola outbreak. It was later moved to Orleans without spectators. DR Congo are in Group K with Portugal, Colombia and Uzbekistan, with matches in that section due to be played in the United States and Mexico.

Iraq ended their preparations with a 2-0 loss to Venezuela. Cristian Casseres and Jesus Ramirez scored one goal in each half, while Iraq were reduced to 10 men after forward Ali Youssef received a straight red card in the 72nd minute. Iraq open their Group I campaign against Norway on June 17 before facing France and Senegal. Venezuela are not part of this year's tournament.

Saudi Arabia were also held to a 0-0 draw by 10-man Senegal. Saudi Arabia begin their Group H matches against Uruguay on June 16 before taking on Spain and Cape Verde, while Senegal start their tournament against France.