US Bars Somali Referee From 2026 World Cup
CBP said he was found inadmissible after additional screening, and FIFA removed him from its World Cup roster.
- 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.
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Somali referee axed from World Cup
Award-winning Somali referee Omar Artan has been dropped from officiating at the World Cup after being barred from entering the United States, world football's governing body FIFA said on Monday. A FIFA spokesperson confirmed in a statement that Artan, who was refused entry to the US after arriving at Miami International Airport on Saturday, would play no part in the World Cup. Artan would have been the first Somali to referee at a World Cup. "F…
A Somali referee was denied entry to the USA before the World Cup despite visa. Reporter Günter Klein comments on the conditions in the country.
The president of the World Football Association cannot even protect his referees. His promise to present the "most inclusive" World Cup makes Trump's authorities impossible even before the tournament began. That was obvious to everyone.
The collegiate was rejected at Miami International Airport for a problem with the vetting process. Somalia is one of the countries whose citizens are subject to a total ban on travel to the United States
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