Referee denied entry to United States
Omar Artan, a referee from Somalia, will not officiate at the World Cup after being refused entry into the United States. Artan, who was named the African federation’s (CAF) referee of the year in 2025, was scheduled to become the first Somali to referee at the men’s World Cup finals. He flew into Miami to join other officials but was reportedly subjected to an 11-hour interview by immigration officials before being placed on a flight back to Istanbul.
Artan stated that he believed he possessed a valid visa to work in the US, despite Somalia being among the countries on a US travel ban list. The US Customs and Border Protection confirmed that Artan underwent “additional inspection” upon arrival and was deemed “inadmissible due to vetting concerns,” leading to his denial of entry. They did not provide further details regarding the decision.
A spokesperson for FIFA confirmed that Artan would be unable to participate in the tournament. FIFA stated it is not involved in host country immigration processes, including visa adjudications, and was informed by authorities that Artan‘s status would not change. The organization added that host governments ultimately determine who receives a visa and is admitted into their country for such events.
Reactions and broader concerns
The denial of entry for Artan has drawn criticism. Ciise Aden Abshir, a Somali government representative and sports ministry advisor, expressed that Artan is highly respected in Africa and deserves the support of the football community. Abshir added that preventing him from officiating harms not only Artan personally but also undermines football’s commitment to fairness and merit.
Former England striker Ian Wright commented on the situation, describing the event as part of a “World Cup of chaos.” He noted a pattern of fans, players, officials, and journalists reportedly being denied entry. Wright also highlighted concerns about the high cost of tickets, accommodation, and transport for the tournament.
The incident has raised questions about FIFA‘s control over host country policies, especially given past statements by FIFA president Gianni Infantino. In 2017, Infantino suggested that travel bans could invalidate a country’s World Cup hosting rights, stating that all teams, supporters, and officials who qualify must have access to the host nation. In 2023, FIFA stripped Indonesia of its rights to host the U-20 World Cup after Bali’s governor refused to allow the Israel team to stay.
However, Infantino‘s previous remarks now appear to contrast with the current situation in the US. In June 2025, a full entry ban under any visa category was reportedly placed on 12 countries, including Somalia, DR Congo, Iran, and Haiti, three of which have teams that qualified for the World Cup.
Impact on the tournament and future
The situation with Artan is not an isolated incident. Concerns have been raised about the potential presence of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at stadiums and how fans could be affected. Reports indicate that supporters from Iraq, a country not on the banned list, have given up trying to enter the US. Iran also stated that its allocation of tickets for the group stage was revoked due to a decision by US authorities.
The US administration has been described as prioritizing immigration policies, even impacting the World Cup. The next test for these policies is expected on Sunday when Iran’s team is scheduled to arrive in the United States. Iran has accused the US of denying visas to 15 members of its backroom staff.
Artan had a notable year in 2025, becoming the first Somali to officiate a continental final. He took charge of the second leg of Pyramids FC‘s African Champions League final victory over Mamelodi Sundowns in June 2025. FIFA also appointed him to the U-20 World Cup in Chile, where he officiated three matches, including the third-place play-off. He also refereed two group games at the Africa Cup of Nations at the end of 2025, having also officiated at the tournament in 2024.
In March 2026, Artan received the selection for the World Cup, which he described as the pinnacle of his career. He told BBC Somali that being selected made all his hard work and years of effort feel worthwhile. Despite his achievements, he is now en route back to Mogadishu.
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Source: bbc.co.uk
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