Somali referee Omar Artan denied US entry, removed from World Cup officiating list

Arrival and denial

Omar Abdulkadir Artan, a 34-year-old Somali referee, arrived at Miami International Airport from Istanbul on Saturday. He was denied entry by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) following what the agency described as a routine additional inspection. CBP stated that after the inspection, the traveler was "determined to be inadmissible due to vetting concerns." Artan held a valid US visa, according to Ciise Aden Abshir, senior advisor at Somalia's Ministry of Youth and Sports and a former national team captain. Following the denial, Artan flew back to Istanbul.

Following inspection, the traveler, a referee for the FIFA World Cup, was determined to be inadmissible due to vetting concerns and was denied entry.

FIFA's response

FIFA confirmed on Monday that Artan would not be able to train or officiate matches at the 2026 World Cup. A FIFA spokesperson told AFP that the organization has no authority over host-country immigration decisions, including visa determinations. The spokesperson added that FIFA had been informed by authorities that Artan's situation would not change for the time being. The governing body stressed that, consistent with previous FIFA events, the host government ultimately decides who receives a visa and who is permitted to enter the country.

FIFA can confirm that match official Omar Abdulkadir Artan will not be able to train or officiate matches at the FIFA World Cup 2026, after being denied entry to the United States.

Artan's standing in African football

Artan was set to become the first Somali referee to officiate at a World Cup. He has been a FIFA-accredited international referee since 2018 and officiates in the Somali national league. He refereed matches at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations finals in Algeria and was named CAF men's referee of the year in 2025. In April 2025, he officiated the second leg of the CAF Champions League final between Pyramids FC and Mamelodi Sundowns. He was one of 52 referees appointed by FIFA for the tournament co-hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States, which begins on Thursday.

Travel ban context

Somalia is among several countries whose citizens are subject to a travel ban imposed by the Trump administration. The precise reason for Artan's denial was not immediately clear. CBP noted that all travelers seeking entry into the US, including athletes, coaches, and staff, are subject to inspection and vetting, with admissibility determinations made on a case-by-case basis using law enforcement, national security, and immigration information available at the time of inspection.

Reaction from Somalia

Abshir expressed strong criticism of the decision, stating that denying Artan entry and preventing him from officiating scheduled matches harms him personally and undermines football's commitment to fairness, merit, and the spirit of fair play. He called Artan one of the most respected referees in Africa and said the entire football community should support him. Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud had previously praised Artan upon his World Cup selection, calling him an inspiration for a new generation of Somalis.

Denying him entry to the United States and preventing him from officiating scheduled matches not only harms him personally, but also undermines football's commitment to fairness, merit, and the spirit of fair play.