Omar Artan, the 2025 CAF men's referee of the year, was denied entry into the United States at Miami International Airport, cancelling his participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Somali official was scheduled to become the first referee from Somalia to officiate at a World Cup final. He is currently in Turkey after the incident.
No official reason was given for the denial, and while Somalia is listed in a travel ban by the former Trump administration, the immigration authorities have not disclosed their decision.
FIFA confirmed that Artan will miss the tournament and is not involved in the visa process for host countries. The federation has asked FIFA for clarification on the matter.
Artan, who has been a FIFA referee since 2018 and officiated at the Africa Cup of Nations, has expressed optimism about future opportunities despite the setback.
Somalia’s national football federation and a Somali embassy official in Nairobi said that Artan possessed a valid diplomatic passport that was intended to ease travel after earlier visa difficulties.
The incident highlights the broader issue of travel restrictions affecting sports officials traveling to international events.
