U.S. Bars Somali Referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan From Entering for FIFA World Cup 2026

U.S. Customs and Border Protection barred Somali soccer referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan from entering the United States after he arrived at Miami International Airport on Saturday from Istanbul, citing "vetting concerns."

FIFA later confirmed that Artan "will be unable to train and officiate at the FIFA World Cup 2026 after he was denied entry into the United States."

ABC News

CBS News reported that a U.S. administration official said the denial was based on "derogatory information" that included "association" with suspected terrorist group members, and that Artan was refused admission under the Immigration and Nationality Act.

The U.S. is hosting the 2026 World Cup alongside Mexico and Canada, with the tournament set to start Thursday with a match in Mexico City, and immigration officials said they evaluate entry requests "on a case-by-case basis" using national security and immigration information.

The White House said Artan was denied entry after "derogatory information, including association with suspected members of terror organizations" was discovered during CBP inspection, making him ineligible under the Immigration and Nationality Act.

USA Today reported that Artan told The New York Times he was interviewed for over 11 hours and detained for several more hours before being put on a flight to Istanbul, adding, "I had the right papers and everything. I had the right visa," and "... I think that they have a problem with my country."

Akhbarak Net

In Mogadishu, Artan received a hero’s welcome at Aden Adde International Airport, where he told supporters, "I promise you, God willing, that I will attend the next one," as hundreds waved Somali flags.

The Guardian reported that the Trump administration said the U.S. denied Artan entry because of his links to "suspected members of terror organisations," while FIFA said the matter fell under U.S. immigration authorities and was beyond its control.

FIFA said Artan would be unable to train or officiate after the U.S. denied him entry, and the denial is tied to broader U.S. travel restrictions that the sources link to President Donald Trump’s travel ban list.

NBC News said the U.S. government gave assurances to FIFA years ahead of the tournament that "eligible athletes, officials and fans from all countries around the world" would be able to attend, while it also described uncertainty for participants due to travel bans and restrictions.

Andrew Giuliani, head of the White House World Cup task force, told CBS News that ICE’s "primary focus" would be national security, not immigration enforcement, and that the administration would take action if it found "a national security issue" involving an illegal alien.

In Somalia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it would continue engaging with relevant partners to seek further clarification, and Artan told Al Jazeera, "I want to thank FIFA for supporting me all the way, and for Somali people also," as he said he would keep his refereeing levels up for future competitions.