World Cup Referee Artan Denied US Entry Over Alleged Terror Links As Somalia Rallies Behind Official

• A United States official says Somali referee Omar Artan was denied entry ahead of the World Cup because of alleged associations with suspected terror organisation members.
• Artan insists he had valid travel documents and says he was questioned for 11 hours before being deported.
• Hundreds of supporters welcomed the referee home to Mogadishu as Somalia’s government continues efforts to resolve the situation.

The story of Omar Artan was supposed to be one of the World Cup’s most uplifting moments.

A referee from Somalia, a country with limited representation on football’s biggest stage, had earned his place among the officials selected for the 2026 World Cup. After years of climbing through the ranks, Artan was set to become the first Somali referee to officiate at the tournament.

Instead, he has become the centre of one of the competition’s most controversial off-field disputes.

A United States official said on Tuesday that Artan was denied entry into the country because of an alleged “association with suspected members of terror organizations.”

The official spoke anonymously due to visa privacy laws.

The explanation comes days after Artan was stopped upon arrival at Miami International Airport and refused admission despite holding a valid visa and FIFA accreditation for the tournament.

The incident has triggered widespread debate over immigration procedures, security screening and the challenges facing World Cup participants from countries subject to increased travel restrictions.

Earlier on Tuesday, Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House FIFA Task Force, confirmed there was a “very good reason” for the decision but declined to provide further details.

United States Customs and Border Protection had previously stated only that Artan was denied entry because of unspecified “vetting concerns.”

According to The New York Times, Artan was subjected to an 11-hour interview after arriving in Miami from Istanbul on Saturday.

The referee said officials questioned him extensively about his travel history, Somali politics and the activities of militant group al-Shabab.

Artan told the newspaper he presented FIFA documents and evidence of his refereeing career during the process.

Despite this, he was ultimately placed in a holding facility before being deported back to Türkiye.

“I think that they have a problem with my country,” Artan told The New York Times.

The 2025 African Referee of the Year said he was never informed why he had been refused entry.

For FIFA, the situation presents an uncomfortable complication at the start of a tournament already navigating heightened political sensitivities.

Artan had been named among the final list of referees selected for the World Cup only two months ago and was due to join fellow officials at FIFA’s refereeing base in Miami.

The governing body has maintained that immigration decisions remain solely the responsibility of host nations.

“FIFA is not involved in the immigration process,” the organisation said in an earlier statement.

The governing body added it had been informed by United States authorities that Artan’s status would not change.

The decision has prompted a strong response in Somalia.

Upon returning home on Wednesday morning, Artan was greeted by hundreds of supporters, football officials and government representatives at Aden Adde International Airport in Mogadishu.

Supporters waving Somali flags crowded around the referee as he emerged from the terminal before escorting him through the airport.

For many in Somalia, Artan’s World Cup selection had been viewed as a source of national pride.

Despite the disappointment, the referee struck a defiant tone.

“I promise you, God willing, that I will attend the next one,” Artan told supporters gathered at the airport.

“I want the Somali public to take comfort in this and remain confident.”

The reception quickly became a celebration of achievement rather than a reflection on what had been lost.

Artan was welcomed by Somalia’s Minister of Youth and Sports, officials from the Somalia Football Federation and several senior dignitaries before addressing local media.

The Somalia Youth and Sports Ministry confirmed it is continuing to work through diplomatic channels in an effort to resolve the matter.

Officials said Somalia’s embassy in the United States remains engaged with American authorities regarding the case.

The controversy also highlights broader concerns surrounding World Cup access.

Somalia is among dozens of countries affected by heightened travel restrictions introduced under the Trump administration’s immigration policies.

Critics have questioned whether fans, players and officials from those nations could face additional barriers despite possessing valid visas and tournament credentials.

The denial of entry to a FIFA-appointed World Cup referee remains an exceptionally rare occurrence.

For Artan, it has transformed what should have been the proudest week of his professional career into an international diplomatic issue.

Yet amid the disappointment, the scenes in Mogadishu offered a reminder of what his achievement still represents.

The World Cup may proceed without him this summer.

But for many in Somalia, Omar Artan’s place in football history has already been secured.