Somali referee Omar Artan has expressed disappointment after being denied entry into the United States ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, despite insisting that he possessed all the necessary travel documents and a valid visa.
Artan, who was set to become the first Somali official to referee at a FIFA World Cup finals, was removed from the tournament’s list of match officials after US immigration authorities barred him from entering the country upon arrival at Miami International Airport.
The experienced referee revealed that he underwent an immigration interview that lasted approximately 11 hours before being detained for several more hours and eventually placed on a return flight to Istanbul, Turkey. According to Artan, no clear explanation was provided for the decision.
Speaking about the ordeal, he said he had travelled with the correct paperwork and visa and had hoped to fulfil what he described as the biggest dream of his career.
FIFA later confirmed that Artan would not participate in the tournament, stating that it does not have any role in the immigration processes of host countries and had been informed that his status would not change.
Officials from Somalia’s sports authorities and diplomatic representatives have also confirmed that Artan was travelling with valid documentation. A Somali embassy official noted that he had even been issued a diplomatic passport to facilitate his journey after experiencing previous visa-related difficulties.
The United States has not publicly disclosed the reasons behind the decision. However, Somalia remains among countries affected by travel restrictions introduced under President Donald Trump’s administration.
Responding to questions about the matter, Andrew Giuliani, head of the White House Task Force on the World Cup, defended the decision by immigration authorities, saying he supported the action taken by Customs and Border Protection, although he declined to provide specific details.
Artan’s exclusion effectively ends any possibility of him officiating at the tournament, as all referees and assistant referees selected for the World Cup are required to be based at FIFA’s training and preparation centre in Miami throughout the competition.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will run from June 11 to July 19 and will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Artan became a FIFA-accredited referee in 2018 and has officiated at several major continental competitions, including the Africa Cup of Nations. His absence from the World Cup represents a major setback not only for his personal ambitions but also for Somali football, which had hoped to see one of its officials make history on the sport’s biggest stage.
The controversy adds to a growing list of issues surrounding the tournament. Iran’s football federation recently reported that its allocation of supporter tickets for the group stage had been withdrawn, while concerns have also been raised about travel restrictions affecting fans, journalists and officials.
Former England international Ian Wright criticised the situation, describing the competition as a “World Cup of chaos” amid mounting concerns over ticketing, accommodation costs, travel arrangements and access issues affecting participants and supporters.