Overview
- Omar Abdulkadir Artan, one of 52 referees selected for the 2026 World Cup, arrived in Miami on Saturday, June 6 and was held for extra inspection before being found inadmissible and sent back to Istanbul.
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection said the decision rested on unspecified 'vetting concerns' and declined to give further details about the grounds for denial.
- FIFA confirmed Artan will be unable to train or officiate at the tournament and said it cannot overturn a host nation’s immigration decisions.
- Somali officials say Artan travelled with valid paperwork and a diplomatic passport issued to ease travel, and the exclusion cost him a long‑awaited chance to be the first Somali World Cup referee.
- The case follows wider visa and entry problems for teams, staff and journalists and raises operational and diplomatic risks for the tournament as U.S. border policies and planned enforcement presence create uncertainty for participants.