U.S. Denies Entry to Somali Referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan for FIFA World Cup 2026

Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan was denied entry to the United States after arriving at Miami International Airport on Saturday from Istanbul, and FIFA confirmed Monday that he will be unable to train and officiate at the FIFA World Cup 2026.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection said Artan underwent additional inspection during processing and was determined to be inadmissible due to vetting concerns, leading to his denial of entry.

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FIFA said it is not involved in host country immigration processes, including visa adjudications, and that it had been informed by authorities that Artan’s status will not be changed at present.

The denial also ended Artan’s scheduled role as one of FIFA’s 52 referees for the tournament in Canada, Mexico and the United States, which is set to begin on June 11 and run until July 12.

In a statement, Artan said, "Despite the circumstances, I am in a positive mood and I am focused on the next challenges in my refereeing career."

Somalia’s senior adviser to the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Ciise Aden Abshir, told AFP that Artan was "among Africa's most respected referees and deserves the support of the entire football community," while arguing the decision "undermines football's commitment to fairness, merit, and the spirit of fair play."

A DHS spokesperson told Al Jazeera that Artan was "determined to be inadmissible due to vetting concerns and was denied entry", without providing further details.

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Al Jazeera reported that Somalia is on President Donald Trump’s travel ban list, and that Artan’s arrival suggested he had a valid visa prior to travel.

FIFA spokespersons told Al Jazeera that the governing body has been informed that Artan’s status will not be changed at present, and that "a host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and who is admitted into their country."

CAIR deputy director Edward Ahmed Mitchell said, "Our nation should not ban anyone from our shores simply because of their race or their ethnicity," and argued that once someone has passed vetting there is no reason to bar them for nationality.

The U.S. decision meant a top World Cup match official would not be participating in the 2026 international competition, with FIFA confirming he would be unable to train and officiate after being denied entry.

“For players, coaches, and officials, participating in the World Cup is one of the highest honors one can achieve”

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The New York Times reported that Artan said in an interview from Istanbul that he had "the right papers and everything" and that he thought "they have a problem with my country," while he planned to return to Somalia from Turkey on Wednesday.

Al Jazeera said the denial was the latest controversy tied to U.S. travel restrictions and their impact on the tournament, which is being cohosted by Mexico and Canada.

The dispute also fed broader concerns about federal agents and stadiums, with New York mayor Zohran Mamdani writing, "Soccer would not exist without immigrants," and saying, "We will not allow ICE or anyone else to sow fear in our communities — especially at this moment."

FIFA’s position, as described by Al Jazeera, was that it was not responsible for the visa and entry process in host countries, and that it had been informed that Artan’s status will not be changed at present.