Somali referee Omar Artan has been denied entry into the United States and will not be able to officiate at the FIFA World Cup 2026, despite being selected by FIFA for the tournament.
According to a spokesperson for Somalia’s Ministry of Sport, the 34-year-old referee was refused entry upon arrival at Miami International Airport, even though he was carrying a valid visa.
Artan was subsequently returned to Somalia via Istanbul after being denied permission to enter the country.
The incident comes as Somalia remains among the nations affected by immigration restrictions introduced under the administration of Donald Trump.
Artan’s exclusion is a significant setback for Somali football. He had been set to become the first Somali referee in history to officiate matches at a FIFA World Cup, marking what would have been a landmark achievement for the East African nation.
Neither FIFA nor U.S. authorities immediately provided further details regarding the decision.
The development raises fresh questions over the impact of travel restrictions on international sporting events, particularly with the United States serving as one of the host nations for the 2026 World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico.
For Artan, the decision ends a historic World Cup opportunity that many viewed as a major milestone for both his career and Somali football.
