Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan denied entry to the United States for the 2026 World Cup

Omar Abdulkadir Artan, the 2025 African Referee of the Year, was denied entry into the United States at Miami International Airport this past Saturday. Artan was scheduled to become the first Somali referee to officiate at the FIFA World Cup, which is hosted by the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. While U.S. authorities and an administration official stated he was denied entry due to vetting concerns regarding links to suspected terrorist organizations, other reports note that Somalia is among the countries subject to a U.S. travel ban. FIFA confirmed that Artan will not officiate or train for the tournament, as all officials are required to be based in Florida. The Somali government expressed disappointment, stating they attempted to negotiate his entry unsuccessfully. FIFA stated it is not involved in host country immigration processes and that the host government holds final authority over entry. Artan is currently in Turkey, and his status remains unchanged despite appeals.