Somali referee Omar Artan denied US entry, will miss 2026 World Cup debut
Omar Abdulkadir Artan, named Africa's best referee in 2025, was denied entry to the United States over the weekend, ending his chance to become the first Somali to officiate at a World Cup.
A historic debut cut short
Omar Abdulkadir Artan, the Confederation of African Football's Best Male Referee for 2025, was set to become the first Somali to officiate at a World Cup. He had been selected as one of 52 referees for the tournament, which kicks off on Thursday. That milestone vanished when US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) denied him entry at Miami International Airport on Saturday after he arrived on a flight from Istanbul.
What happened at the border
A CBP spokesperson, without naming Artan, said a Somali national underwent routine additional inspection and was deemed inadmissible due to vetting concerns. The agency cited law enforcement, national security, and immigration information available at the time. Artan held a valid visa and a diplomatic passport, according to media reports and Ciise Aden Abshir, a former captain of the Somali national team now advising the sports ministry.
Admissibility determinations are made on a case-by-case basis using law enforcement, national security, and immigration information available at the time of inspection.
FIFA and Somalia respond
FIFA confirmed Artan will not train or officiate at the World Cup, stating it is not involved in host country immigration processes and that authorities said his status will not change at present. Somalia's Ministry of Youth and Sport said it undertook extensive diplomatic efforts and negotiations with the US and FIFA but could not reach a solution.
Unfortunately, despite these firm efforts, it was not possible to reach a solution.
The referee speaks
Artan released a statement through FIFA, saying he remained positive and focused on the next challenges of his refereeing career. He thanked FIFA and CAF for their support and wished his colleagues success at the tournament.
Despite the circumstances I am in a positive mood and focused on the next challenges of my refereeing career.
Broader immigration context
The Trump administration imposed a sweeping travel ban on citizens of 12 countries, including Somalia, in June 2025. The ban has been a point of concern ahead of the World Cup. Abshir told AFP the denial not only harms Artan personally but also undermines football's commitment to fairness and the spirit of fair play.