Somali referee Omar Artan denied U.S. entry for 2026 World Cup
WASHINGTON (Somaliguardian) – Somali football referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan will miss what was expected to be a historic World Cup debut after being denied entry into the United States, FIFA confirmed on Monday. Artan had been scheduled to participate in training and officiating duties at the tournament, which begins on Thursday. His appointment would have […]
Black News 
WASHINGTON (Somaliguardian) – Somali football referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan will miss what was expected to be a historic World Cup debut after being denied entry into the United States, FIFA confirmed on Monday.
Artan had been scheduled to participate in training and officiating duties at the tournament, which begins on Thursday. His appointment would have made him the first Somali referee to officiate at a FIFA World Cup.
A FIFA spokesperson said the governing body had been informed that Artan would not be permitted to enter the United States and therefore would be unable to take part in the competition.
“FIFA is not involved in host country immigration processes, including visa adjudications, and has been informed by authorities that Mr Artan’s status will not be changed at present,” the spokesperson said.
In a statement, Artan said he remained optimistic despite the setback and was focused on the future of his refereeing career.
“I would like to thank FIFA and CAF for all their support and I promise to keep my refereeing levels up as I concentrate on the future,” he said.
“I want to thank the football family for their messages and wish my colleagues all the best success during the World Cup and I look forward to joining them again in future competitions.”
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said a Somali national arrived at Miami International Airport from Istanbul on Saturday and was denied entry after officials determined he was inadmissible following additional screening procedures.
Although the agency did not identify the individual by name, it said the decision was based on vetting concerns and that the traveler underwent a routine secondary inspection before being refused entry.
“Admissibility determinations are made on a case-by-case basis using law enforcement, national security, and immigration information available at the time of inspection,” the CBP said.
The agency did not provide further details regarding the concerns that led to the decision.
The case has drawn attention amid ongoing scrutiny of U.S. immigration policies ahead of the World Cup. Last year, the Trump administration introduced a broad travel ban affecting citizens from 12 countries, including Somalia.
According to media reports, Artan held a valid U.S. visa at the time of travel. Somalia’s embassy in Washington had not issued a public response as of Monday.
Artan, who was named the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) Best Male Referee for 2025, is widely regarded as one of Africa’s leading match officials. His absence means Somalia will miss a landmark moment at the World Cup, where he had been poised to become the first Somali referee to officiate on football’s biggest stage.
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