Somali World Cup referee denied entry to US arrives home to hero’s welcome
CBP said Artan was inadmissible after additional inspection, and FIFA removed him from its 52-referee roster.
- On Saturday, June 6, U.S. Customs and Border Protection denied entry to Somali FIFA referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan at Miami International Airport, citing "vetting concerns." FIFA confirmed on Wednesday that Artan will not officiate in the 2026 World Cup.
- U.S. officials alleged Artan had links to "suspected members of terror organizations" after an 11-hour inspection. Somalia is one of 12 nations subject to a travel ban implemented by the Trump administration in December 2025.
- Named Africa's Best Male Referee in 2025, Artan was set to make history as the first Somali to officiate at a World Cup. He described being "very, very disappointed," stating he held valid travel documents and a visa.
- FIFA stated it is "not involved in host country immigration processes" and cannot intervene in U.S. visa decisions. Somalia's Ministry of Youth and Sports condemned the exclusion, calling it a "blow to sporting merit" and an unfair barrier to participation.
- Critics argue these restrictive policies transform the event into a "World Cup of exclusion" for many international participants and officials. The Iranian national team and Moroccan fans have also faced visa delays ahead of the tournament's opening.
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649 Articles
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow’s 'welcome' referee has terror ties, U.S. officials allege
A soccer referee invited to work in Toronto at the World Cup by Mayor Olivia Chow was reportedly denied entry by American authorities due to “association with suspected members of terror organizations,” U.S. news outlets reported Wednesday.
The United States did not allow the entry to referee Omar Artan, excluded from the World Cup, and denied him an appointment with history by becoming the first Somali whistle to lead a World Cup match. The judge declared that despite the setback he is determined to squeal at the next World Cup, after his return to Mogadishu, where he was greeted with applause and cheers, What happened to Artan, a Somali referee who was going to be playing matches…
Reason Africa's Top Referee Deported from U.S. Amid Allegations of Terrorist Group Involvement; Welcomed as a Hero in His Homeland of Somalia OSEN = Reporter Kang Pil-ju Omar Artan Somali, Africa's top referee, was forcibly deported after being denied entry at Miami Airport ahead of the opening of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America.
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