Somali Referee Omar Artan Denied US Entry, Ruled Out of World Cup
Omar Artan, the only Somali among FIFA's 52 selected referees for the 2026 World Cup, will not officiate at the tournament after US authorities denied him entry at Miami airport, citing "vetting concerns." FIFA said host governments decide who is admitted, as the case adds to a series of border problems for World Cup travelers.
O mar Abdulkadir Artan, the only Somali among the 52 referees selected by FIFA for the 2026 World Cup, will not officiate at the tournament after United States immigration authorities denied him entry. US Customs and Border Protection said the official arrived at Miami International Airport from Istanbul on June 6 and was barred after additional inspection, citing "vetting concerns" that rendered him inadmissible.
"Inadmissible due to vetting concerns"
CBP said in a statement that a Somali World Cup referee was determined to be inadmissible due to vetting concerns and was denied entry. The agency did not name Artan, though he is the only Somali on FIFA's list of match officials for the tournament. "Admissibility determinations are made on a case-by-case basis using law enforcement, national security, and immigration information available at the time of inspection," the statement added. A Somali government official told AFP that Artan held a valid US visa.
FIFA says host governments decide
FIFA confirmed in a separate statement that Artan "will be unable to train and officiate at the FIFA World Cup 2026 after he was denied entry" into the United States. World football's governing body said it is not involved in the visa or immigration processes of host countries. "In line with previous FIFA events, a host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and who is admitted into their country," FIFA said. The tournament, co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States, kicks off on June 11.
A historic appointment cut short
Artan became a FIFA referee in 2018 and was named the Confederation of African Football's men's referee of the year for 2025. He was the first Somali selected to officiate at a men's World Cup, a milestone that Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud praised in April, calling him "a symbol of inspiration for the new generation of Somalis." Ciise Aden Abshir, a senior adviser at Somalia's Ministry of Youth and Sports, said Artan was "among Africa's most respected referees and deserves the support of the entire football community."
"You cannot give up as a referee"
A former player who turned to refereeing after an injury, Artan has described navigating civil strife in Somalia to reach training, at times working around explosions on the roads. "You cannot give up as a referee," he told Al Jazeera earlier this year. "You have to continue, and you have to fight if you want to go to a place like the World Cup." Now back in Istanbul, he said he remained "in a positive mood" and "focused on the next challenges," thanking the football community and wishing his colleagues well.
Not an isolated case
Artan is not the only traveler connected to the World Cup to face obstacles at the US border. On Friday, two members of Iraq's delegation were stopped at Chicago O'Hare: striker Aymen Hussein was questioned for about seven hours before being allowed in, while team photographer Talal Salah was denied entry and sent home, with CBP again citing vetting concerns. Iran, meanwhile, has based its squad in Mexico and plans to fly in and out of the United States only on match days. Ahead of the tournament, more than 120 civil society organizations issued a joint advisory urging fans to "exercise caution" and prepare contingency plans when traveling to the US.
Reporting: Chad de Guzman, TIME, June 9, 2026, with CBP and FIFA statements.