Somali referee Omar Artan returned to Mogadishu after U.S. border officials denied him entry, leaving him unable to train or officiate at the World Cup.
Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, who had been selected to officiate at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, returned to Mogadishu on Wednesday after U.S. border officials refused him entry at Miami International Airport.
Customs and Border Protection said Artan was found inadmissible after additional inspection, citing “vetting concerns.” A Trump administration official later said the decision was based on derogatory information that included alleged association with suspected members of terrorist organizations. The nature and extent of the alleged association remain unclear.
FIFA confirmed that Artan “will be unable to train and officiate at the FIFA World Cup 2026 after he was denied entry into the United States.” The governing body said it does not control host-country visa or admission decisions and had been told Artan’s status would not be changed at present.
The decision removes one of Africa’s most prominent match officials from the tournament just as the World Cup is set to begin. Artan, 34, was named the Confederation of African Football’s men’s referee of the year in 2025 and had been expected to become the first Somali to referee at a World Cup finals.
Artan arrived in Miami from Istanbul and was sent back after questioning by U.S. immigration authorities. BBC Sport reported that he said he held the right paperwork and a U.S. visa, and that he was questioned about links to Al Shabab, the Somali armed group, which he said he knew nothing about.
On Wednesday, Artan was met at Aden Adde International Airport by Somali officials, football representatives, fellow referees and supporters. He later met President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, according to BBC Sport. In brief remarks at the airport, Artan thanked Somalis for their support and said he remained determined to reach the next World Cup.
“I promise you that I’ll be officiating you in the next World Cup,” Artan said in comments translated by the BBC.
The case has drawn criticism in Somalia, where officials and fans had celebrated Artan’s selection as a national milestone. Somalia’s Ministry of Youth and Sports said it was deeply saddened by the denial and said the government had made diplomatic efforts with U.S. authorities. Ciise Aden Abshir, a senior adviser to the ministry and a former national team captain, told Agence France-Presse that Artan was among Africa’s most respected referees and deserved support from the football community.
U.S. officials have defended the decision as a security matter. CBP said people seeking entry are evaluated case by case using law enforcement, national security and immigration information available at the time of inspection. Andrew Giuliani, who leads the White House Task Force on the World Cup, told BBC World Service he supported the border decision, while saying he could not discuss the derogatory information.
Somalia is covered by Trump administration travel restrictions, though the supplied reports describe the scope differently: CBS News reported Somalia was among 39 countries affected by an executive order with near-total restrictions for some countries, while BBC Sport described Somalia as one of 12 countries under a full entry ban introduced in June 2025. The reporting also notes exemptions for World Cup athletes and staff, but those exemptions do not remove the government’s discretion to deny admission at the border.
The practical effect for Artan is final for this tournament. BBC Sport reported that he could not remain outside the United States and officiate matches in Canada or Mexico because on-field officials are based in Florida for training, preparation and security.
The United States is co-hosting the 2026 World Cup with Mexico and Canada. The tournament is scheduled to open Thursday in Mexico City and will bring teams, officials and fans from around the world under heightened scrutiny of host-country border and security procedures.
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