Somali referee Omar Artan denied entry to US for World Cup

A Somali referee was due to become his country’s first to officiate the World Cup but was denied entry to the United States in an unprecedented move by the host country

The story of Omar Artan was supposed to be one of the World Cup's most uplifting moments. A referee from Somalia, a country with limited representation on football's biggest stage, had earned his place among the officials selected for the 2026 World Cup. After years of climbing through the ranks, Artan was set to become…

Omar Abdulkadir Artan said he had a valid visa and FIFA papers, but was still denied entry. The soccer governing body says it won't intervene in host-country immigration processes.

Andrew Giuliani, who is leading the White House task force for the FIFA World Cup, has said Artan was denied entry to the US for a "very good reason," without offering further details.

The 34-year-old Artan was named Africa's best male referee in 2025.

Referee Omar Artan arrives back in Somalia after being denied entry to the United States for the World Cup because of his "association with suspected members of terror organisations".

Somali referee Omar Artan received a hero’s welcome in Mogadishu after being denied entry to the United States for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Omar Abdulkadir Artan has returned home to Mogadishu after being denied entry to the United States, ending his chance to officiate at the 2026 World Cup. The Somali official had been due to make history at the tournament after being selected among the referees for the finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Omar Artan vows to officiate at the 2030 World Cup instead after arriving home in Somalia in the wake of being banned from entering the United States.

Omar Artan vows to officiate at the 2030 World Cup instead after arriving home in Somalia in the wake of being banned from entering the United States.

Somali referee Omar Artan, who was denied entry to the United States for the World Cup, returned to a hero's welcome in Mogadishu and vowed to take part in the next tournament in 2030.FIFA also confirmed that he would no longer be part of the World Cup set to start on Thursday.

Omar Artan being denied entry to the United States has become one of the biggest off-field controversies of the World Cup build-up. The Somali referee had been set to make history as the first official from his country to work at a World Cup, but he was turned away at the border and will no longer be part of the tournament.

A United States official said Tuesday night that Omar Artan, the Somalian referee who was denied entry into the country ahead of the World Cup, was refused admission due to "association with suspected members of terror organizations."

Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan will not take part in this summer’s World Cup after he was denied entry into the United States, FIFA confirmed on Monday.

Somalia on Tuesday defended award-winning referee Omar Artan after he was denied entry to the United States and prevented from becoming the first Somali official to officiate at a World Cup finals.There is no reason a referee denied entry to one host country cannot still contribute to a World Cup being hosted across three countries," he said. str-jf-mnk/pi/gj/mw

Omar Abdulkadir Artan should have been the first Somali referee ever to officiate at a World Cup.

Omar Artan was set to become the first Somali to referee a game at the World Cup finals, but his place in history has been denied by US immigration authorities.

The World Cup referee from Somalia who was denied entry to the United States after arriving in Miami and subsequently dropped from the tournament by FIFA had been set to make history for his country. Omar Artan was due to be the first referee from Somalia to …

Somali referee Omar Artan says he was subjected to an 11-hour immigration interview before being denied entry to the United States for the World Cup despite holding the "right papers" and "right visa".

Somali referee Omar Artan says he was subjected to an 11-hour immigration interview before being denied entry to the United States for the World Cup despite holding the "right papers" and "right visa".

U.S. Customs and Border Protection said the decision was made over "vetting concerns."

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

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.

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".

Federal immigration authorities barred a Somali soccer referee who was slated to officiate the FIFA World Cup from entering the U.S. over the weekend, citing "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.