Somali World Cup Referee Denied Entry to the U.S.

A Somali referee, Omar Artan, will not officiate at the FIFA World Cup as he was denied entry to the United States due to ‘vetting concerns’, U.S. officials confirmed.

Omar Artan was among 52 referees selected for the tournament in North America. As one of only seven African referees, he was recognized as the Referee of the Year in 2025 by the Confederation for African Football.

Mr. Artan arrived at Miami International Airport on Saturday, just five days before the tournament’s start. However, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (C.B.P.) officials stopped him at the border. In a statement, C.B.P. explained, ‘The traveler underwent additional inspection, a routine part of C.B.P.’s process when officers need to verify information or determine admissibility.’

‘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 statement added, noting decisions are made individually.

FIFA confirmed the decision and stated that Mr. Artan would not participate in the World Cup. The organization mentioned, ‘FIFA is not involved in host country immigration processes, including visa adjudications.’

This incident echoes recent diplomatic tensions affecting visa approvals for the tournament. Last week, after long-standing uncertainty due to U.S.-Iran relations, Iranian soccer players received visas, but over a dozen of their support staff were denied entry.

Under the Trump administration, the U.S. has enforced strict travel restrictions on Somalia, a country in East Africa that has faced challenges but is on a path toward stable statehood. President Trump has publicly criticized Somalia, yet the Pentagon collaborates with its government against militant groups like Al Shabaab.

Despite Somalia’s difficulties, Omar Artan is celebrated domestically for his sporting achievements. His exclusion from the tournament has devastated supporters. Ibrahim Abukar Ahmed from Mogadishu shared, ‘When I received the news, I nearly collapsed because I had high hopes in him. Today is a sad day not only for Artan but for millions of Somalis.’

Tariq Panja, a global sports correspondent, covers intersections of money, geopolitics, and crime in the sports world.