Somali Referee Denied Entry to US for World Cup: Official
FIFA said Artan will not train or officiate after U.S. authorities deemed him inadmissible, removing one of 52 World Cup referees.
- On June 8, 2026, Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan was denied entry into the United States upon arriving for the FIFA World Cup. Authorities refused admission and sent him back to Turkey.
- Somalia is one of several nations on a travel ban list introduced by President Donald Trump. Despite Artan carrying a diplomatic passport issued in Nairobi, officials barred him at Miami International Airport.
- Artan is among the 52 referees selected by FIFA for the tournament after being named the 2025 CAF men's referee of the year. He has officiated at the African Cup of Nations and CAF Champions League.
- Senior advisor to Somalia's Ministry of Youth and Sports Ciise Aden Abshir criticized the move, saying "Denying him entry to the United States and preventing him from officiating scheduled matches harms not only him personally but also undermines football's commitment to fairness, merit, and the spirit of fair play." Artan remains in Istanbul.
- Visa controversies have impacted other World Cup participants, with the U.S. State Department denying entry to some Iranian support staff. Officials cited concerns about attempts to "abuse this system to sneak terrorists into the United States.
316 Articles
316 Articles
The Somali government classified the decision that prevented Arbitrator Omar Abdulkadir Artan from entering the United States and, as a result, participated in the 2026 World Cup. The case provoked a reaction from the authorities of the African country, which are now seeking clarification from the American government and Fifa. Artan, 34 years old, would make history by becoming the first Somali Arbitrator to act in a World Cup. His call for the …
Richmond Times-Dispatch
24ur.comUS denies entry to World Cup referee
The United States denied entry to a Somali referee who arrived in the country over the weekend to officiate games during the World Cup, the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol said Monday. The Somali national arrived at Miami International Airport…
The Somali umpire Omar Abdulkadir Artan, rising figure of African arbitration, will not participate in the 2026 Football World Cup, which starts Thursday in North America. Repressed Saturday upon his arrival in the states...
Omar Artan, Africa's arbitrator of the year, is not allowed to enter the United States because of alleged "concerns in the context of the security review."
Somali referee axed from World Cup after denied entry to US
Award-winning Somali referee Omar Artan has been dropped from officiating at the 2026 World Cup after being barred from entering the United States, world football's governing body FIFA said on Monday. A FIFA spokesperson confirmed in a statement that Artan, who was refused entry to the US after arriving at Miami International Airport on Saturday, would play no part in the World Cup. Artan would have been the first Somali to referee at a World Cu…
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