A Somali referee selected for the 2026 FIFA World Cup was denied entry into the United States after federal authorities linked him to suspected members of terrorist organizations.
A Somali referee selected for the 2026 FIFA World Cup was denied entry into the United States after federal authorities linked him to suspected members of terrorist organizations. PULSE POINTS WHAT HAPPENED: Somali referee Omar Artan, selected to officiate at the 2026 FIFA World Cup , was denied entry into the United States after Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials discovered information linking him to suspected members of terrorist organizations. Artan was stopped at Miami International Airport after arriving from Istanbul, Turkey, and subsequently deemed inadmissible under U.S. immigration law. DETAIL: The Trump administration said CBP officers discovered “derogatory information” during an inspection that made Artan…Open
As the World Cup begins later this week, match officials and team members have faced enhanced immigration scrutiny when trying to enter the United States. A FIFA referee from Somalia was turned away.
As the World Cup begins later this week, match officials and team members have faced enhanced immigration scrutiny when trying to enter the United States. A FIFA referee from Somalia was turned away.Open
Somali referee Omar Artan won’t officiate in the World Cup after being denied entry into the United States. U.S. Customs and Border Protection said Monday that a Somali national who was planning to referee in the World Cup had been denied entry after arriving to Miami International Airport from Istanbul on Saturday. While the CBP statement didn’t mention the person by name, Artan is the only World Cup referee from Somalia.
“I had the right papers and everything,” Omar Abdulkadir Artan said in his first interview since he was turned back. He would have been the first Somali to referee a game in the tournament.
Omar Artan was one of 52 referees selected for the FIFA World Cup. But on Saturday he was denied entry because of “vetting concerns,” U.S. officials said.
The referee was "determined to be inadmissible due to vetting concerns and was denied entry," a CBP spokesperson said, without going into further detail.
