Omar Artan, set to be Somalia's first World Cup referee, was denied entry at Miami airport and deported to Turkey.
6:07 PM
Omar Artan, a Somali referee selected by FIFA for the 2026 World Cup, was denied entry to the United States at Miami International Airport and has been dropped from the tournament's officiating roster.
Artan arrived at the airport on Saturday from Istanbul but was barred from entering the country following a routine inspection by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. He was subsequently deported to Turkey. FIFA confirmed on Monday that Artan will be unable to train and officiate at the tournament.
The 34-year-old was set to become the first referee from Somalia to officiate at a World Cup finals. He was one of 52 referees handpicked by FIFA for the tournament, which begins in three days across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
U.S. authorities have not publicly stated reasons for denying Artan entry, though he held a valid travel visa. Somalia is among several countries currently under a broad travel ban imposed by the Trump administration. A Somali government official told the AFP that Artan had a valid visa and the reasons for the prohibition remain unclear.
The Somali embassy reportedly offered Artan a diplomatic passport in an attempt to resolve the situation, but U.S. authorities maintained their denial of entry.
Artan has been a FIFA referee since 2018 and built a career in African football. He was named the 2025 Confederation of African Football men's referee of the year. During his career, he has officiated World Cup qualifying matches, Copa Africana de Naciones fixtures and CAF Champions League encounters, establishing himself among the continent's most respected match officials.
The Somali Ministry of Youth and Sports said the decision to bar Artan's entry undermines football's commitment to equity, merit and fair play. Artan had been concentrating with other match officials for the tournament but was unable to travel due to visa complications prior to his arrival at Miami airport.
FIFA has not detailed how Artan's absence will affect the tournament's officiating arrangements or whether a replacement referee will be named.
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