Somali referee Omar Artan denied entry to US for World Cup

U.S. authorities cited “vetting concerns” for refusing Omar Artan just days before the soccer tournament.

FIFA referee Omar Artan has spoken out after he was denied entry into the United States of America for the 2026 World Cup. The World Cup kicks off on June 11, but Artan will have no role in the competition after initially being set to become the first Somali to officiate a match at the tournament.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection confirmed that a Somali national who was planning to referee in the World Cup had been denied entry

Omar Artan was deemed “inadmissible due to vetting concerns” by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, per multiple reports

The ref was set to be the first from his country to officiate at the World Cup

A Somali referee who was set to become the first from his country to officiate at a World Cup has been denied entry to the United States. World governing body FIFA confirmed Omar Artan, who was selected as one of 52 referees for the tournament, will now be removed from its roster.

A Somali referee was on Monday dropped from the World Cup after he was denied entry to the United States, reigniting concerns about how Donald Trump's immigration crackdown could disrupt the tournament.The United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said Artan was denied entry due to "vetting concerns".

FIFA has released a statement after Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan was turned away at the border at Miami International Airport just days before the World Cup kicks off

The decision comes amid concern that Trump administration policies will hamper preparations for the global sporting event.

Somali referee Omar Artan has been denied entry into the United States after getting selected to officiate in the World Cup.

Award-winning Somali referee Omar Artan has been dropped from officiating at the World Cup after being barred from entering the United States, world football's governing body FIFA said on Monday.Artan was among the 52 referees announced by FIFA to officiate at the World Cup finals in Canada, Mexico and the United States.

Was going to be first Somalian to officiate at a World Cup ‘He deserves the support of the football community’ A Somali referee, who was set to become the first person from his country to officiate at a World Cup, has been denied access to the US, according to reports. Omar Artan is alleged to have been refused entry to the US at Miami International airport this past weekend, despite having a valid travel visa. Continue reading...

Somali referee Omar Artan has been denied entry to the United States for the World Cup.

Somali referee Omar Artan, who was set to be the first from his country to officiate at the World Cup finals, is denied entry to the United States.

Somali referee Omar Artan, who was set to be the first from his country to officiate at the World Cup finals, is denied entry to the United States.

Award-winning Somali referee Omar Artan, set to be the first from his country to officiate at the World Cup finals, was denied entry to the United States, a sports ministry official told AFP on Monday. Artan was among the 52 referees announced by FIFA to officiate at the June-July World Cup finals in Canada, Mexico and the United States.

Africa's top referee will not be allowed to officiate at the World Cup after he was refused entry to the USA, FIFA has confirmed.