Somali referee denied US entry, misses World Cup dream

Somali referee Omar Artan voiced deep disappointment after U.S. immigration authorities denied him entry into the United States, effectively ending his dream of officiating at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Artan, who was named the Confederation of African Football Men’s Referee of the Year in 2025, was stopped at Miami International Airport and subsequently repatriated to Turkey.

“

I am very, very disappointed. I’m just simply a referee who’s trying to live his dream, the biggest dream of my life, to come to the World Cup.

Artan described undergoing an extensive 11-hour immigration interview before being refused entry, despite possessing what he believed were valid travel documents and the correct visa. "I am very, very disappointed. I’m just simply a referee who’s trying to live his dream, the biggest dream of my life, to come to the World Cup," Artan told The New York Times.

“

FIFA can confirm that match official Omar Abdulkadir Artan will be unable to train and officiate at the FIFA World Cup 2026 after he was denied entry into the United States.

FIFA confirmed that match official Omar Abdulkadir Artan would be unable to participate in the tournament. The governing body stated, "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 senior adviser from Somalia’s Ministry of Youth and Sports confirmed Artan traveled with valid documents, and a Somali embassy official noted his diplomatic passport was issued to facilitate his travel.

“

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.

Despite the World Cup also being staged in Canada and Mexico, FIFA requires all selected referees to be based in Miami for training and preparation. Andrew Giuliani, head of the White House Task Force on the World Cup, defended the decision, stating to the BBC World Service, "While I can’t go into the derogatory information on that, I can tell you it was the right decision by Customs and Border Protection, and I support that decision." Artan suggested his nationality might have influenced the decision, referencing travel restrictions affecting several countries under the Trump administration.

“

While I can’t go into the derogatory information on that, I can tell you it was the right decision by Customs and Border Protection, and I support that decision.