Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan will miss this summer’s World Cup after being denied entry to the United States, one of the co-hosts of the 2026 tournament.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is being staged by the United States, Canada and Mexico, the first edition to be hosted by three nations. It runs from 11 June to 19 July 2026 across 16 host cities.
Asked about Artan’s case, a US Customs and Border Protection spokesperson told CNN he was subject to additional inspection on arrival in Miami after a flight from Istanbul, Turkiye.
“During processing, the traveller underwent additional inspection, a routine part of CBP’s inspection process when officers need to verify information or determine admissibility,” the spokesperson said.
“Following inspection, the traveller, a referee for the FIFA World Cup, was determined to be inadmissible due to vetting concerns and was denied entry.”
The CBP spokesperson did not say why Artan was refused entry, but nationals from countries covered by Donald Trump’s travel ban face additional scrutiny.
Somalia is one of 39 nations affected by the Trump administration’s travel restrictions.
Artan was named Africa’s top male referee in 2025 and was selected by the Confederation of African Football for this year’s World Cup.
In a statement, a FIFA spokesperson said FIFA is not involved in host-country immigration processes, including visa decisions, and had been told by the authorities that Artan’s status will not be changed at present.
“In line with previous FIFA events, a host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and who is admitted into their country,” added the FIFA spokesperson.
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