MIAMI — A Somali referee selected to officiate at the FIFA World Cup 2026 was denied entry to the United States upon arrival in Miami, preventing him from fulfilling his duties at the tournament, FIFA and U.S. officials confirmed.
Omar Abdulkadir Artan arrived at Miami International Airport on Saturday from Istanbul but was barred from entering the country following secondary inspection by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, according to statements from the agency and FIFA. Artan was the only referee from Somalia selected for the tournament.
U.S. Department of Homeland Security officials said Artan was determined to be inadmissible due to vetting concerns. He held a valid visa and diplomatic passport at the time of arrival, sources familiar with the case indicated.
FIFA confirmed on Monday that Artan would be unable to train or officiate at the World Cup, which is co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. The organization said it was working with relevant authorities on the matter but provided no further details on potential replacements.
Artan, recognized as Africa's best men's referee in 2025, had been preparing for the tournament. Upon his return to Mogadishu, he received a hero's welcome from supporters and officials, local media reported. He described the denial as "unfortunate" in comments to reporters.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection stated that the decision followed a "routine" inspection, without elaborating on specific reasons. The case has drawn attention amid broader reports of entry issues for some World Cup participants and officials from certain countries.
A FIFA spokesperson said the governing body respects national sovereignty on entry decisions while emphasizing the importance of fair participation for all qualified officials. No immediate comment was available from U.S. immigration authorities on whether the decision could be appealed or reviewed.
The incident occurs as the 48-team tournament approaches its opening matches. Artan's exclusion highlights challenges in coordinating international sports events with host country security and immigration protocols.
As of Tuesday, FIFA had not announced a replacement referee for Artan's assigned matches. U.S. officials maintained that all decisions are based on individual vetting processes. Further details on the specific concerns that led to the denial remained unavailable.
