Somali FIFA referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan has been barred from entering the United States to officiate at the 2026 World Cup, U.S. Customs and Border Protection confirmed Monday, citing undisclosed “vetting concerns.”
The award-winning referee, 34, arrived at Miami International Airport on June 6 on a flight from Istanbul, Turkey, where he had been attending a mandatory FIFA seminar for match officials . Despite holding a valid U.S. visa and a diplomatic passport issued by the Somali government, Artan was subjected to additional inspection upon arrival and ultimately denied entry .
“During processing, the traveler underwent additional inspection, a routine part of CBP’s inspection process when officers need to verify information or determine admissibility,” a CBP spokesperson said in a statement. “Following inspection, the traveler, a referee for the FIFA World Cup, was determined to be inadmissible due to vetting concerns and was denied entry” .
The agency emphasized that “all travelers seeking entry into the United States, including athletes, coaches, and staff, are subject to CBP inspection and vetting,” and that admissibility determinations are made on a case-by-case basis using available law enforcement, national security, and immigration information .
FIFA confirmed shortly after that Artan would not be permitted to train or officiate at the tournament. “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 FIFA spokesperson said. “In line with previous FIFA events, a host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and who is admitted into their country” .
A historic career disrupted
Artan was set to make history as the first Somali referee to officiate at a senior men’s World Cup — a milestone celebrated by his country just two months ago . He received his FIFA badge in 2018 and has since built an impressive résumé that includes matches at the Africa Cup of Nations, the CAF Champions League, and FIFA World Cup qualifiers .
In 2025, the Confederation of African Football named him the men’s referee of the year — a testament to his rising stature on the continent . He also officiated the 2024-25 CAF Champions League final, becoming the first Somali to take charge of a continental final .
Somalia’s response
The decision has drawn sharp criticism from Somali officials. Ciise Aden Abshir, a senior advisor to Somalia’s Ministry of Youth and Sports and a former national team captain, told AFP that Artan had a valid visa and has since returned to Istanbul .
“Omar Artan is among Africa’s most respected referees and deserves the support of the entire football community,” Abshir said. “Denying him entry to the United States and preventing him from officiating scheduled matches harms not only him personally but also undermines football’s commitment to fairness, merit, and the spirit of fair play” .
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud had praised Artan in April after his World Cup selection, calling him “a symbol of inspiration for the new generation of Somalis” .
Political context
Somalia is among approximately 39 countries subject to travel restrictions introduced under President Donald Trump’s administration, which has placed nationals from those nations under heightened scrutiny at U.S. borders . The White House’s World Cup task force leader, Andrew Giuliani, told the BBC he supported the decision but declined to provide specific details about the vetting concerns .
Artan’s case is not isolated. Iran has also reported difficulties securing entry for some team personnel, and other nations on the restricted list have faced complications ahead of the tournament, which kicks off June 11 in Mexico City .
Questions for the tournament
The incident has raised concerns about the consistency of U.S. border enforcement during a major international sporting event. Just last week, government and FIFA officials assured the public that players, fans, and officials would not face significant immigration issues — with the exception of travelers from Haiti and Iran .
With Artan now removed from the official list of 52 referees, FIFA has not indicated whether a replacement will be named. The tournament — co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico — is scheduled to run from June 11 to July 19, with Miami’s first match set for June 15 .
