The United States has denied entry to soccer referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, who had been expected to be the first Somali to officiate a World Cup match.
A FIFA spokesperson said Artan would not be able to train and officiate at the World Cup – the latest edition of which kicks off on Thursday – after he was not allowed to enter the United States over the weekend.
Somalia’s government said it had unsuccessfully tried to negotiate with the US and FIFA so that Artan could enter the country, and it was saddened by what had happened.
“His international achievements are a source of honour and pride for the Somali people,” Somalia’s sports ministry said in a statement.
FIFA not involved in immigration policies
A senior Somali official told Reuters that diplomatic efforts were continuing to try to get Artan into the US for the tournament but declined to share further details.
A FIFA spokesperson said the organisation “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”. Its website does not show what match Artan was due to officiate.
Artan said in a statement that despite the circumstances he was in a positive mood and focused on the next challenges of his refereeing career.
“I would like to thank FIFA and CAF (Confederation of African Football) for all their support, and I promise to keep my refereeing levels up as I concentrate on the future,” he said.
US policies raise concerns ahead of World Cup
Without naming him, the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said in a statement that a Somali national arrived at Miami International Airport from Istanbul on Saturday and was deemed inadmissible due to vetting concerns.
The agency did not elaborate on those concerns but said the referee underwent routine additional inspection before being denied entry.
“Admissibility determinations are made on a case-by-case basis using law enforcement, national security, and immigration information available at the time of inspection,” the CBP said.
The Trump administration’s strict immigration policies have been a point of concern ahead of the World Cup. Last year, Washington imposed a sweeping travel ban on citizens of 12 countries, including Somalia.
Artan, who was named CAF’s Best Male Referee for 2025, had a valid visa, according to media reports.
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- Omar Abdulkadir Artan, the first Somali referee expected to officiate at a World Cup, was denied entry to the United States.
- Somalia's government unsuccessfully tried to negotiate with the US and FIFA to allow Artan's entry and expressed disappointment.
- FIFA stated it has no role in immigration decisions and confirmed Artan's status would not change currently.
- The US Customs and Border Protection cited vetting concerns as the reason for denying Artan entry but provided no specifics.
- Artan remains positive, thanking FIFA and CAF for support, and plans to focus on his future refereeing career despite the setback.
A FIFA spokesperson said Artan would not be able to train and officiate at the World Cup - the latest edition of which kicks off on
Somalia's government said it had unsuccessfully tried to negotiate with the US and FIFA so that Artan could enter the country, and it was saddened by what had happened.
"His international achievements are a source of honour and pride for the Somali people," Somalia's sports ministry said in a statement.
A senior Somali official told Reuters that diplomatic efforts were continuing to try to get Artan into the US for the tournament but declined to share further details.
A FIFA spokesperson said the organisation "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". Its website does not show what match Artan was due to officiate.
Artan said in a statement that despite the circumstances he was in a positive mood and focused on the next challenges of his refereeing career.
"I would like to thank FIFA and CAF (Confederation of African Football) for all their support, and I promise to keep my refereeing levels up as I concentrate on the future," he said.
"Admissibility determinations are made on a case-by-case basis using law enforcement, national security, and immigration information available at the time of inspection," the CBP said.
Artan, who was named CAF's Best Male Referee for 2025, had a valid visa, according to media reports.
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