Somali Referee Omar Artan Dropped from World Cup After US Entry Denial
Last update: June 9, 2026
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He was set to make history at the World Cup, but Omar Artan never made it past Miami airport.
Omar Artan was about to break new ground. The Somali referee was lined up to be the first from his country to officiate at a World Cup finals. Now he has been dropped from the list after US officials denied him entry, according to cbinews.tv.
Artan, who was named the 2025 Confederation of African Football men’s referee of the year, was stopped at Miami International Airport and sent back. He is currently in Turkey.
US immigration authorities have not given a reason for turning him away, but Somalia is one of several countries on a travel ban list brought in under President Donald Trump’s administration.
Fifa has now confirmed Artan will miss the tournament. In a statement, the world governing body said he would be unable to train and officiate at the Fifa World Cup 2026 after being denied entry into the United States. Fifa added that it is not involved in visa decisions and that host governments ultimately decide who gets in.
That ruling matters because of how refereeing works at this World Cup. Referees’ chief Pierluigi Collina has set up a training hub in Miami for all 52 referees and 88 assistant referees. Everyone has to stay at the Florida base for training, preparation and security. So Artan could not just fly in for matches in Canada or Mexico while staying outside the US.
A senior adviser to Somalia’s ministry of youth and sports told the BBC that Artan was travelling with valid documents. A Somali embassy official in Nairobi added that his diplomatic passport was issued specifically to ease travel after earlier visa issues.
Artan himself is staying upbeat. Speaking to Reuters, he thanked Fifa and Caf for their support and said he would keep his refereeing levels high. He also sent best wishes to his colleagues at the World Cup and said he looks forward to joining them again in future competitions.
The Somali Football Federation has asked Fifa for urgent clarification. Meanwhile, Andrew Giuliani, who leads the White House Task Force on the World Cup, told BBC World Service he could not share details but said the decision by customs and border patrol was the right one and he supports it.
The World Cup runs from 11 June to 19 July. Artan became a Fifa referee in 2018 and has officiated at the Africa Cup of Nations. He also works in the Somali national football league.
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