Somali referee Omar Artan says he was denied entry to the United States after an 11-hour immigration interview, despite holding what he described as the “right papers” and the “right visa,” ending his chance to become the first Somali to officiate at a World Cup finals. Artan had been due to work at the FIFA World Cup 2026, but was removed from the list of officials after being barred at Miami International Airport and sent back on a flight to Istanbul, Turkey.
Artan said he was deeply disappointed by the decision. He said he had spent years pursuing his dream of refereeing at the World Cup, describing it as the biggest goal of his life. A Somali embassy official in Nairobi said Artan had been issued a diplomatic passport to help him travel after earlier visa problems, while a senior adviser to Somalia’s ministry of youth and sports confirmed to the BBC that he had been travelling with valid documents.
FIFA said it had confirmed that Artan would be unable to train or officiate at the tournament after he was denied entry into the United States. The governing body said it was not involved in host-country immigration decisions, including visa adjudications, and had been told by authorities that his status would not change at present.
No official reason has been given by US immigration authorities for the denial of entry. Somalia is among countries affected by a travel ban introduced during President Donald Trump’s administration, though authorities have not publicly linked that policy to Artan’s case.
Artan said that after the long interview with US immigration officials, he was taken to a separate holding cell and detained for several hours before being deported. His removal means he cannot simply remain outside the United States and officiate only matches in Canada or Mexico, because all referees and assistant referees must stay at FIFA’s training hub in Miami for preparation, security, and training.
The World Cup officiating group is being led by referees chief Pierluigi Collina, who has organized the Florida base for the tournament’s 52 referees and 88 assistant referees. That setup makes it impossible for Artan to participate without access to the United States.
Andrew Giuliani, head of the White House Task Force on the World Cup, said he supported the decision made by customs and border protection, though he did not provide details of the information that led to the denial. In December, Trump said he did not want Somali immigrants in the United States and told them to “go back to where they came from.”
Artan said he believed the US had a problem with his country. His case has drawn attention because it ends a historic opportunity for Somali representation at football’s biggest tournament and raises fresh questions about the impact of immigration policy on international sporting events.
