World Cup referee was not allowed into the United States just days before the tournament started.
World Cup referee Omar Artan was unexpectedly denied entry to the United States, even though he’s on FIFA’s official list of referees for the tournament. The 2026 World Cup kicks off this Thursday in Mexico City, with hosts Mexico taking on South Africa. The event will also be held in Canada and the United States.
There have been some visa issues ahead of the tournament, especially involving the US and Israel’s tensions with Iran. Iranian players and key staff have been allowed into the US, although their training camp was moved to Mexico. But some Iranian officials were denied entry.
Now, Somali referee Omar Artan has reportedly been stopped from entering the US as well. Journalist Romain Molina shared that Artan had the support of the Somali embassy in Nairobi, Kenya, to get a diplomatic passport before traveling to America. Artan even thanked the embassy on Facebook last Friday.
However, when he arrived at Miami International Airport, US immigration refused him entry and sent him back right away. He’s currently staying in Turkey while the situation is being sorted out. Somalia is on former President Donald Trump’s travel ban list, but no official reason has been given for Artan’s return.
SPORTbible has reached out to FIFA for a comment. Artan is a notable referee—at just 31 years old, he became the first Somali referee to officiate at the Africa Cup of Nations in 2026, where he oversaw Ivory Coast’s 3-2 win over Gabon. He also made history as the first Somali to be chosen as a World Cup official.
FIFA usually keeps referee assignments private, so it’s not yet clear which matches Artan will manage in the tournament. He’s one of 52 referees on FIFA’s list for this summer’s World Cup, including five others from Africa.
Artan has been refereeing in Somalia’s top league since 2018 and joined CAF’s official list in 2020. He even refereed the second leg of last season’s African Champions League final, and was named CAF’s best referee for 2025.
According to Somali news site Hiiraan, Artan is “known for his sharp decision-making and strong presence on the field,” and he’s considered one of Africa’s most promising young referees.