Omar Abdulkadir Artan, one of FIFA's 52 appointed referees for the 2026 World Cup, has been denied entry into the United States and will not officiate at the tournament. Artan, who holds a valid US visa and was named Africa's top male referee in 2025, was turned away at Miami International Airport after arriving from Istanbul. US Customs and Border Protection cited unspecified "vetting concerns," but Somalia, where Artan is from, is among 39 nations on the Trump administration's active travel ban list.
Why was Somali Referee Omar Artan denied entry to the US?
Omar Artan's exclusion became public after FIFA confirmed that he would not participate in the World Cup. According to a spokesperson for the US Customs and Border Protection agency, the referee underwent additional inspection after arriving at Miami International Airport on a flight from Istanbul.
"During processing, the traveler underwent additional inspection, a routine part of CBP's inspection process when officers need to verify information or determine admissibility," the spokesperson said. "Following inspection, the traveler, a referee for the FIFA World Cup, was determined to be inadmissible due to vetting concerns and was denied entry."
Authorities have not disclosed the specific concerns that led to the decision. However, Somalia is among the countries affected by immigration restrictions introduced under the administration of Donald Trump. Nationals from countries on the list are often subjected to heightened scrutiny during the entry process. The development is particularly striking because Artan had already secured a place among FIFA's selected officials for the June-July tournament, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. FIFA later acknowledged the situation, emphasizing that immigration decisions remain the responsibility of host governments.
Reactions from the football community
Artan's removal is being felt far beyond Somalia. Widely regarded as one of the continent's top officials, he was named Africa's best male referee in 2025 and has handled some of the biggest matches in African football. His resume includes fixtures at the Africa Cup of Nations, the CAF Champions League and the FIFA U-20 World Cup, including the 2025 CAF Champions League final between Pyramids and Mamelodi Sundowns.
Former Somalia captain and sports advisor Ciise Aden Abshir described the decision as a setback for the game itself.
"Omar Artan is among Africa's most respected referees and deserves the support of the entire football community," Ciise Aden Abshir told AFP.
"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," Abshir added.
Earlier, Trump called Somalians "garbage" in a cabinet meeting, where he said "they contribute nothing. I don't want them in our country." He also disparaged Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., who is from Somalia, during his speech, telling the crowd "I love this Ilhan Omar, whatever the hell her name is. With her little turban," referring to Omar's hijab. "I love her. She comes in, does nothing but bitch. She's always complaining. She comes from her country where, I mean it's considered about the worst country in the world."
What does FIFA say about Artan's World Cup ban?
FIFA confirmed Artan's exclusion on Monday but distanced itself from the decision. "FIFA is not involved in host country immigration processes, including visa adjudications, and has been informed by authorities that Mr. Artan's status will not be changed at present," a spokesperson said. FIFA added that host governments ultimately control who enters the country, a position that offers little comfort given the circumstances.
This is not an isolated incident. Switzerland forward Breel Embolo faced a visa issue in the lead-up to the tournament. Donald Trump also ordered the Democratic Republic of Congo's national team to serve a 21-day Ebola quarantine in Belgium before being allowed entry. Iran has also run into entry difficulties under the current administration's immigration framework. The pattern raises uncomfortable questions about the US's suitability as a host, particularly for officials and players from nations caught in its travel restrictions.
