Kids' Nonprofit In Seattle Returns 20 Free World Cup Tickets Over Barring Of Somali Referee

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SEATTLE (AP) — Ali Abdulla was over the moon when he learned his youth-soccer nonprofit would receive 20 free tickets to the World Cup round of 16 match next month in Seattle. Many of the kids in his African Youth Sports Academy come from low-income, immigrant families, and with ticket prices hovering around $1,000, it was an incredible opportunity for them. Then the U.S. barred Omar Artan — the first Somali referee set to officiate in the World Cup — from entering the country . Abdulla,