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World Cup referee denied entry to US
๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท Turkey /Sports

World Cup referee denied entry to US

From Cumhuriyet · () Turkish

Translated from Turkish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Outcome reported
  • Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, selected for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, was denied entry into the United States.
  • Artan, who was chosen to officiate matches in the tournament hosted by the US, Mexico, and Canada, was sent back to Istanbul after being stopped at Miami International Airport.
  • The referee was recently named 'Africa's Best Referee' for 2025 by the Confederation of African Football.

Omar Abdulkadir Artan, a Somali referee selected to officiate at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, has been denied entry into the United States. The tournament is scheduled to take place from June 11 to July 19 across the US, Mexico, and Canada.

Artan was reportedly stopped at Miami International Airport and subsequently denied entry into the US. He was sent back to Istanbul on Sunday. Details surrounding the exact reasons for his denied entry have not yet been provided.

Neither FIFA nor the Somali Football Federation has issued an official statement regarding the incident. This situation arises despite Artan's recent accolades and his historic selection as the first Somali referee to participate in a FIFA World Cup.

Artan was recognized as 'Africa's Best Referee' for 2025 at an award ceremony organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). His exclusion from the US raises questions, particularly as Somalia is among the countries subject to US travel restrictions.

DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Cumhuriyet in Turkish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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