Somali soccer referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan was denied entry into the United States, dashing his hopes of making his World Cup debut. Artan, who was expected to become the first Somali to officiate at a World Cup match, was barred from entering the country over the weekend.
Background
A FIFA spokesperson said Artan would not be able to train or officiate at the tournament after he was not allowed to enter the United States. The Somali Football Federation said it had not received an official explanation for why Artan was denied entry and was working with FIFA and relevant authorities to understand the circumstances.
Artan had a valid visa, according to media reports. The Trump administration last year imposed a travel ban on citizens of 12 countries, including Somalia. U.S. Customs and Border Protection said a Somali national who arrived at Miami International Airport from Istanbul on Saturday was deemed inadmissible due to vetting concerns.
Artan, named CAF’s Best Male Referee for 2025, thanked FIFA, CAF, and the Somali people for their support as he prepared to return home. Somalia’s government said it had unsuccessfully tried to negotiate with the U.S. and FIFA so that Artan could enter the country, and was saddened by what had happened.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
