Somali Referee Denied Entry to US for World Cup: Official
The FIFA referee was sent back to Turkey after being refused admission at Miami International Airport, disrupting his assignment to World Cup matches.
- 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.
140 Articles
140 Articles
Sydney Morning Herald
‘Vetting concerns’: Top Somalian referee to miss World Cup after being turned away at US border
An experienced match official who is accredited by both the Confederation of African Football and FIFA, and has controlled high-level games at club and international level, Artan was the first referee from his country selected to work at a World Cup, and one of 52 on the original list for the tournament.
Africa’s best referee denied entry to US despite being picked by FIFA for World Cup
In another scandalous event just days before the 2026 World Cup, a highly decorated Somali referee, widely described as Africa's finest, has been denied entry to the United States.
US denies entry to World Cup referee from Somalia over 'vetting concerns'
A Somali World Cup referee was barred from entering the United States, with customs agents citing “vetting concerns.” Omar Artan, a referee for the FIFA World Cup, was turned back after landing at Miami from an Istanbul flight. U.S. Customs and Border Protection acknowledged his position in its statement. “During processing, the traveler underwent additional inspection, a routine part of CBP’s inspection process when officers need to verify info…
A referee from Somalia, who is scheduled for the World Cup, fails to enter the USA. "There were concerns," the border guard authority informs. According to a consultant, he had a valid visa.
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