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U.S. Bars Somali World Cup Referee, Removing Him From FIFA Roster

The refusal underlines that host‑nation immigration controls, not FIFA, decide who may enter and raises urgent questions about access for officials, teams and media.

Referee Omar Artan, center, of Somalia, is confronted by players after calling a penalty kick during the CAF Champions League final soccer match between AS FAR Rabat and Mamelodi Sundowns, in Rabat, Morocco, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)
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Overview

  • Omar Abdulkadir Artan, a FIFA‑selected referee from Somalia, was denied entry at Miami International Airport after arriving on the weekend of June 6 and was returned to Istanbul before flying home to Mogadishu.
  • Artan says U.S. border agents questioned him for about 11 hours, held him in a holding cell and then deported him despite his claim to hold valid travel documents and FIFA accreditation.
  • U.S. Customs and Border Protection said the traveler was found inadmissible “due to vetting concerns” but declined to provide specific reasons, and a White House World Cup official said there was a “very good reason” without elaboration.
  • FIFA confirmed it removed Artan from the tournament roster and said it cannot override a host government’s visa or admission decisions, while Somalia’s officials and supporters pressed for answers.
  • The case adds to pre‑tournament visa disputes affecting teams and journalists and could prompt diplomatic and congressional scrutiny over how U.S. travel restrictions and vetting rules will shape who can take part in the 2026 World Cup.