Washington, DC [US], June 10 (ANI): US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that his administration is working to ensure that entry to the United States for the World Cup is granted to 'the right people.'
Earlier today, Somalia soccer referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan expressed regret over the decision to bar him from entering the United States for the FIFA World Cup 2026.
Artan, who was named Africa's referee of the year in 2025, had been set to become the first Somali to officiate at soccer's global showpiece. However, he was turned back by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) over the weekend, according to Reuters.
The Trump administration stated on Tuesday that the US had denied Artan entry due to his links to suspected members of terrorist organizations.
'What happened has happened, and it was unfortunate. I am grateful for the support FIFA gave me,' Artan told reporters after arriving in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, and urged his supporters to stand behind their country, as quoted by Reuters.
'Somalia is ours, whether things are good or bad. I want to tell our youth not to lose hope in our country,' he said. 'I am now in my country, and there is no other place I want to be,' he added.
FIFA had previously announced the appointment of 52 referees and 88 assistant referees for the World Cup 2026.
According to Reuters, a FIFA spokesperson said Artan will no longer be able to train or officiate at the tournament, which will be hosted across the United States, Mexico, and Canada and begins on Thursday.
Somalia's government expressed regret over the situation, stating that it had made unsuccessful efforts to engage with both the United States and FIFA to secure Artan's entry.
Without naming him directly, US Customs and Border Protection said a Somali national arriving at Miami International Airport from Istanbul on Saturday was denied entry due to 'vetting concerns.' An administration official later stated that CBP had assessed the individual as a potential national security risk.
