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MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — The World Cup referee from Somalia who was denied entry to the United States after arriving in Miami and subsequently cut from the tournament
by FIFA was set to make history for his country. Omar Artan was going to be the first referee from Somalia to officiate at a World Cup after making FIFA’s final list for the tournament, which was announced two months ago. He is one of Africa’s top referees and was named the continent’s best male referee in 2025.
Artan was denied entry at Miami International Airport on Saturday over “vetting concerns,” U.S. Customs and Border Protection said in a statement without providing details of those concerns. Artan was issued a visa to travel to the U.S. last week, according to the Somalia Embassy in Kenya that processed it.The move to deny a FIFA-appointed match official permission to enter a World Cup host country is highly unusual. Artan was due to meet up with other World Cup referees at their training base in Miami.
The Somalia Youth and Sports Ministry stated on Tuesday that it had not been informed why Artan was denied entry and that its embassy in the U.S. was making diplomatic efforts to resolve the issue, hoping to still allow Artan to referee at the World Cup, which opens on Thursday.
Somalia was one of the countries subjected to new travel restrictions last year under the Trump administration's crackdown on immigration. This raised concerns that fans, players, and officials from those countries—most of which are African—might be denied entry for the World Cup despite having valid visas.
Isse Aden Abshir, a senior adviser at the Somalia sports ministry and a former national team captain, remarked, "When Customs and Border Protection said Omar Artan was found inadmissible because of vetting concerns without specifying the reason, it may be related to those broader screening measures rather than any specific allegation against him.”
During processing, the traveler underwent additional inspection, which is a routine part of CBP’s inspection process when officers need to verify information or determine admissibility, CBP said in its statement on Monday. Following inspection, the traveler, a referee for the FIFA World Cup, was determined to be inadmissible due to vetting concerns and was denied entry.
CBP did not name Artan and referred only to a Somali national who is a World Cup referee. Artan is the only Somali referee selected for the tournament.
CBP stated that all travelers seeking entry into the U.S.—including World Cup players, coaches, and staff—were subject to CBP inspection and vetting.
“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 statement noted. “CBP officers have the authority to question travelers, conduct inspections, and determine admissibility consistent with U.S. law.”
FIFA indicated that it was not involved in the immigration processes and was informed by U.S. authorities that Artan’s “status will not be changed at present.” As a result, Artan would not be able to train and officiate at the World Cup.
“In line with previous FIFA events, a host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and who is admitted into their country,” FIFA stated.
FIFA and its president Gianni Infantino have built close ties to U.S. President Donald Trump’s government as the U.S. prepared to co-host with Mexico and Canada, publicly stressing how that would help the World Cup run smoothly.
Infantino did not immediately comment on the issue, while FIFA released a statement on behalf of Artan, who expressed his positivity despite the circumstances. “Despite the circumstances, I am in a positive mood and I am focused on the next challenges in my refereeing career,” Artan said. “I would like to thank FIFA and (the African soccer confederation) for all their support and I promise to keep my refereeing levels up as I concentrate on the future.”
Artan was praised as one of Africa's best referees and officiated the decisive leg of the African Champions League final last month—Africa's biggest club soccer game.
In a recent interview with Al Jazeera, Artan spoke about how honored he was to be selected as the first Somali to referee at the World Cup and the challenges he faced in his conflict-torn country, including sometimes needing to change his route to training because of explosions in the streets of Mogadishu. “You cannot give up as a referee,” Artan remarked. “This (going to the World Cup) was my big, big target and I'm really excited.”
