The Somali World Cup referee, Omar Artan, was denied entry to the U.S. upon arrival in Miami and subsequently removed from the tournament by FIFA. Artan was to make history as Somalia’s first referee at the World Cup after his inclusion in FIFA’s final list. Artan, one of Africa’s top referees, was named the continent’s best male referee in 2025. He was turned away at Miami International Airport over ‘vetting concerns,’ according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, who provided no detailed explanation. Despite being issued a visa last week, Artan faced challenges at the border.
Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House FIFA Task Force, expressed there were ‘very good reasons’ for denying entry but refused to elaborate. Artan’s denial is atypical for a FIFA-appointed official traveling to a World Cup host country. Somalia is under stringent travel restrictions imposed by the Trump administration, with concerns that these might affect fans, players, and officials from affected countries at the World Cup, despite holding valid visas.
Artan was questioned for 11 hours at Miami airport, delving into his reasons for visiting the U.S., Somali politics, and the militant group al-Shabab. Despite showing FIFA documents and photos from his refereeing career, Artan was returned to Istanbul after being placed in a holding cell. He expressed a belief that issues stemmed from his nationality rather than any specific allegations.
The Somalia Youth and Sports Ministry announced efforts to resolve Artan’s entry issues before the World Cup commenced. Senior adviser Isse Aden Abshir suggested travel restrictions might be influencing the refusal more than any direct allegations against Artan.
Customs and Border Protection confirmed Artan underwent ‘additional inspection,’ a routine process to verify or determine admissibility. Artan was deemed inadmissible due to vetting concerns, with CBP stating exams and vetting apply to all seeking U.S. entry, including World Cup participants.
FIFA acknowledged U.S. authorities’ decision about Artan’s unchanged status, confirming his inability to officiate at the World Cup. Host nations ultimately decide visa issuances and entries, and FIFA emphasized not being part of immigration deliberations.
Despite coordination with U.S. President Trump’s administration to ensure smooth World Cup operations, FIFA President Gianni Infantino did not comment immediately. Artan, though disappointed, expressed determination to tackle future challenges in his refereeing career.
Artan excelled as one of Africa’s best referees, officiating at the African Champions League final recently. He described to Al Jazeera the honor of his World Cup selection and shared challenges in Somalia, such as altering routes due to street explosions in Mogadishu. Artan’s aspirations to referee at the World Cup constituted a significant goal, and he remained eager despite the setback.
Reporters Gerald Imray, Graham Dunbar, and Seung Min Kim contributed from Cape Town, Geneva, and Washington respectively.
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