The United States denied entry to a Somali referee who arrived in the country over the weekend to officiate matches during the FIFA World Cup, the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol said Monday.
The Somali national arrived at Miami International Airport from Istanbul International Airport on Saturday and was determined to be inadmissible due to investigative concerns and was denied entry, CBP said in a statement, without saying what those concerns were.
CBP did not name the Somali national, but according to media reports, he was Omar Artan, an award-winning referee who had a valid visa and was set to be the first from his country to officiate at the World Cup.
Somalia’s embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
A FIFA spokesperson confirmed in a statement that Artan, who was denied entry into the United States after arriving at Miami International Airport, would not participate in the World Cup.
“FIFA can confirm that referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan will not be able to coach or officiate at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after being denied entry to the United States,” a FIFA spokesperson said. AFP.
FIFA emphasized that it had no power to influence the decision, which it said was the sole responsibility of the United States, co-host of the tournament.
“FIFA is not involved in the host country’s immigration processes, including visa adjudications, and has been informed by authorities that Mr. Artan’s status will not change at this time,” the spokesperson said.
“As in previous FIFA events, the host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and who is admitted to their country.”
Artan was among 52 referees announced by FIFA to officiate at the World Cup finals in Canada, Mexico and the United States.
He has been refereeing in Somalia’s national football league championships since becoming a FIFA referee in 2018.
He also officiated at the 2023 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) final in Algeria, and in 2025 was named male referee of the year by the Confederation of African Football.
The Trump administration’s strict immigration policies have been a cause of concern for World Cup attendees, and last year Washington imposed a broad travel ban on citizens of 12 countries, including Somalia.
