A Somali referee’s long-awaited chance to officiate at the World Cup has ended after U.S. authorities denied him entry into the country, according to the referee and a statement from U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Omar Abdulkadir Artan, one of 52 referees selected for this summer’s World Cup in North America and one of seven African officials chosen, said the decision crushed the biggest dream of his professional life.
Artan said he arrived at Miami International Airport on Saturday, five days before the tournament’s opening match, but was stopped by border officials and questioned overnight in a small room. He said he presented what he described as valid travel documents, a visa, FIFA paperwork and evidence of his career as a referee. He also said officials reviewed online information about his work, including his recognition as referee of the year in 2025 by the Confederation of African Football.
After an 11-hour immigration interview, Artan said he was moved to a holding cell and later placed on a flight back to Istanbul, where he was flown after being refused entry. He said U.S. officials gave him no explanation at the time. CBP later said he had undergone additional inspection, a routine process used to verify information and determine admissibility, and was denied entry because of “vetting concerns.”
Artan told The New York Times that he believed the refusal may have been connected to Somalia, saying he thought “they have a problem with my country.” He said he had spent four years preparing for the World Cup, including FIFA training in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, and had hoped to become the first Somali to referee a World Cup match. He described the opportunity as a symbol of what Somalis could achieve despite the country’s hardships.
The referee also said officers questioned him about why he had come to the United States and about politics in Somalia, including repeated questions about Al Shabab, the militant group that controls parts of the country and has fought the Somali government for years. He said the experience was emotionally devastating and left him deeply disappointed.
FIFA confirmed that Artan would not be able to officiate at the tournament. In a statement, the organization said it is not involved in immigration or visa decisions and had been informed by authorities that his status would not change. It was not immediately clear whether clearance had been sought for him to work matches in Mexico or Canada, the other host nations.
The case comes amid strained U.S.-Somalia relations and broader travel and visa restrictions affecting Somali nationals. It also follows other immigration issues involving teams and officials linked to the World Cup, including uncertainty faced by Iran’s delegation. Artan said he planned to return to Mogadishu on Wednesday after the denial ended his World Cup hopes.
