LOS ANGELES – In a development that has roiled global football circles, FIFA confirmed Monday that award-winning Somali referee Omar Artan will not officiate at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, after U.S. border authorities denied him entry into the United States over the weekend.
Artan, who made history earlier this year as the first Somali ever selected to referee at a men’s World Cup finals, arrived at Miami International Airport Saturday to begin pre-tournament training and preparations, only to be turned away following additional routine vetting. A FIFA spokesperson confirmed to AFP that the ruling means Artan is ineligible to participate in any capacity at the co-hosted 2026 tournament, which is being held across Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
In its official statement, FIFA emphasized it has no ability to overturn or alter the U.S. government’s decision, noting that immigration vetting and visa approval fall entirely under the authority of host nations. “FIFA is not involved in host country immigration processes, including visa adjudications, and has been informed by authorities that Mr Artan’s status will not be changed at present,” the spokesperson said, adding that host governments retain final say over entry for all event participants, consistent with long-standing FIFA event policies.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) confirmed the denial in its own statement, framing the additional inspection as standard procedure when admissibility requires further verification. “Following inspection, the traveler, a referee for the FIFA World Cup, was determined to be inadmissible due to vetting concerns and was denied entry,” a CBP spokesperson said.
The denial comes amid long-standing U.S. travel restrictions placed on Somalia, which was added to a sweeping immigration travel ban enacted during the Donald Trump administration as part of a broader crackdown on entry from several majority-Muslim nations. Notably, Somali government officials confirm Artan held a valid U.S. visa at the time of his arrival in Miami.
Ciise Aden Abshir, senior advisor to Somalia’s Ministry of Youth and Sports and a former captain of Somalia’s national men’s football team, called the decision a blow to the core principles of global football. “Omar Artan is among Africa’s most respected referees and deserves the support of the entire football community,” Abshir said. He added that “denying him entry to the United States and preventing him from officiating scheduled matches harms not only him personally but also undermines football’s commitment to fairness, merit, and the spirit of fair play.” Following the denial, Artan departed the U.S. for Istanbul, per Abshir.
Artan’s path to the World Cup was a landmark moment for Somali football. FIFA named Artan one of 52 top referees selected for the 2026 tournament earlier this year. He earned his FIFA referee badge in 2018, and has since officiated top-tier matches across Somalia’s national league, the 2023 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals in Algeria, and was named Confederation of African Football’s Men’s Referee of the Year in 2025 in recognition of his consistent, high-level work.
When Artan’s historic selection was announced in April, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud praised the referee as a beacon of hope for young Somalis. “I commend the effort, professionalism, and integrity shown by referee Omar, as he has become a symbol of inspiration for the new generation of Somalis,” Mohamud said at the time.