Somali Referee Omar Artan Denied US Entry, Missing World Cup 2026

Mon Jun 15 2026 08:50:45 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Omar Artan, 2025 CAF referee of the year, was barred from the United States and will not officiate the 2026 World Cup finals.

Somali referee Omar Artan, slated to be the first Somali to referee at the 2026 World Cup finals, was denied entry to the United States at Miami International Airport and is now in Turkey. No formal reason was given, but his travel restriction ties to a Trump‑era ban list. FIFA confirmed Artan will miss the tournament, citing that visa decisions lie outside its control. Somali officials maintain he had proper documents, while the Somalia Football Federation has requested clarification. The incident highlights the impact of visa policies on international sports participation.

Somali referee barred from US, missing World Cup 2026

Omar Artan – the 2025 Confederation of African Football (CAF) men's referee of the year – was denied entry to the United States at Miami International Airport and is now in Turkey. The move effectively removed him from the list of match officials scheduled to work the World Cup 2026, which runs in Canada, Mexico and the United States from 11 June to 19 July.

The United States does not give a public explanation for Artan’s denial. Officials say the Somali referee was on a travel‑ban list introduced under former President Donald Trump and that visa adjudication is outside FIFA’s jurisdiction. In a statement, FIFA confirmed that Artan will not train or officiate at the tournament and emphasized that host governments control immigration decisions.

A senior adviser to Somalia’s ministry of youth and sports acknowledged the denial but said Artan had arrived with valid documents. A Somali embassy official in Nairobi also noted that a diplomatic passport had been issued to facilitate his travel. Yet the Somali Football Federation has requested urgent clarification from FIFA.

Artan, who became a FIFA referee in 2018, had already officiated at the Africa Cup of Nations and was part of the 52 referees announced by FIFA for the 2026 finals. In a statement to Reuters, he expressed gratitude for the support of the football community and pledged to keep his refereeing standards high for future competitions.

Andy Giuliani, head of the White House Task Force on the World Cup, defended the customs and border patrol decision, saying it was the right course of action. The incident highlights ongoing tensions over travel restrictions for sports personnel and raises questions about fairness in refereeing appointments.

The World Cup 2026, jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States, underscores the global nature of football, where national policies can have ripple effects. The Somali referee’s story is a reminder that beyond the pitch, geopolitical decisions shape the opportunities of athletes, officials and fans alike.