Somali World Cup Referee Denied Entry to United States Ahead of Tournament

• Somali referee Omar Artan has been ruled out of the World Cup after being denied entry into the United States upon arrival in Miami.
• U.S. authorities said the decision followed additional vetting procedures and concerns regarding admissibility.
• FIFA confirmed it has no role in immigration decisions, with Artan now forced to miss the biggest assignment of his refereeing career.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup has suffered an early controversy after Somali referee Omar Artan was denied entry into the United States, preventing him from taking part in the tournament despite being selected as one of FIFA’s match officials.

Artan arrived at Miami International Airport from Istanbul on Saturday but was refused admission following an inspection by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

While CBP initially did not identify the individual involved, FIFA later confirmed that the official in question was Artan, the only referee from Somalia appointed to this summer’s World Cup.

In a statement released on Monday, CBP said Artan underwent further screening after arrival, describing the process as a routine part of border inspections.

“During processing, the traveler underwent additional inspection, a routine part of CBP’s inspection process when officers need to verify information or determine admissibility,” the statement read.

“Following inspection, the traveler, a referee for the FIFA World Cup, was determined to be inadmissible due to vetting concerns and was denied entry.”

The agency added that all travellers entering the United States, including athletes, coaches, officials and support staff, are subject to the same inspection procedures.

“Admissibility determinations are made on a case-by-case basis using law enforcement, national security, and immigration information available at the time of inspection,” CBP said.

Artan has since broken his silence, expressing disappointment but also gratitude for the support he has received from across the football community.

“Despite the circumstances, I am in a positive mood and I am focused on the next challenges in my refereeing career,” Artan said.

“I would like to thank FIFA and CAF for all their support and I promise to keep my refereeing levels up as I concentrate on the future.”

The Somali official also wished his fellow referees success during the tournament and expressed hope of returning to future FIFA competitions.

FIFA reiterated that it has no authority over immigration decisions made by host nations.

“FIFA is not involved in host country immigration processes, including visa adjudications, and has been informed by authorities that Mr Artan’s status will not be changed at present,” the governing body said.

“In line with previous FIFA events, a host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and who is admitted into their country.”

The situation places an uncomfortable spotlight on immigration policies during a World Cup being jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Somalia remains on a list of countries facing U.S. immigration restrictions, although exemptions can be granted in certain cases.

The incident comes as organisers attempt to balance tournament security with promises of welcoming supporters, players and officials from across the globe. The World Cup is expected to attract millions of visitors, making immigration and border procedures a major focus throughout the competition.

Speaking last week, Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House Task Force on the World Cup, insisted visitors with valid documentation should not be concerned.

“We want people to be able to come here and enjoy this World Cup while also making sure that we can keep the country safe,” Giuliani said.

For Artan, however, the opportunity has already passed. After years of working his way through African and international football, the biggest appointment of his refereeing career has ended before the tournament has even kicked off.

It is a bitter personal setback and an unfortunate distraction for FIFA as the countdown to the opening match enters its final days.