Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan is not going to participate on this summer season’s World Cup after he was denied entry into the United States, FIFA confirmed on Monday.
When requested about Artan’s case, a US Customs and Border Protection spokesperson informed NCS that he underwent extra inspection upon arriving in Miami following a flight from Istanbul.
“During processing, the traveler underwent additional inspection, a routine part of CBP’s inspection process when officers need to verify information or determine admissibility,” the spokesperson stated. “Following inspection, the traveler, a referee for the FIFA World Cup, was determined to be inadmissible due to vetting concerns and was denied entry.”
Somalia is one of the 39 nations affected by the Trump administration’s journey ban. The CBP spokesperson didn’t present particulars on why Artan was refused entry, however nationals of nations listed underneath Trump’s journey ban are positioned underneath extra scrutiny.
A Trump administration official later informed NCS the vetting uncovered “derogatory information, including association with suspected members of terror organizations.” The official didn’t present additional particulars on the alleged affiliation with terror organizations.
Artan was named Africa’s top male referee in 2025 and was chosen by the Confederation of African Football to participate on this 12 months’s World Cup. He was considered one of seven African referees chosen and would have been the primary Somali to referee on the World Cup.
In an announcement NCS obtained from a Somali official, Artan stated, “Despite the circumstances, I’m in a constructive temper and I’m targeted on the following challenges in my refereeing profession.
“I would really like to thank FIFA and CAF for all their assist and I promise to hold my refereeing ranges up as I think about the longer term.
“I want to thank the football family for their messages and wish my colleagues all the best success during the World Cup and I look forward to joining them again in future competitions.”
In a subsequent interview with the New York Times, Artan stated he was “very disappointed” by the choice and had been granted a visa forward of his arrival.
“I’m just simply a referee who’s trying to live his dream, the biggest dream of my life, to come to the World Cup,” he stated, including he was interviewed for 11 hours in Miami earlier than his deportation.
FIFA, which organizes the World Cup, stated immigration choices had been the purview of host international locations for the match.
“FIFA is not involved in host country immigration processes, including visa adjudications, and has been informed by authorities that Mr. Artan’s status will not be changed at present,” a FIFA spokesperson stated in an announcement. “In line with previous FIFA events, a host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and who is admitted into their country.”
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The information of Artan’s ban comes after different international locations, notably Iran, have additionally had some points with entry into the United States amid the Trump administration’s stringent immigration insurance policies.
The president of Iran’s soccer federation, Mehdi Taj, stated Sunday that the Iranian soccer crew had been granted permission to enter the US for the tournament, however “only one day before the match,” in accordance to semi-official Iranian media, sparking accusations of unfair remedy.
Amir Ghalenoei, Iran’s head coach, added that some administration employees, media personnel and an government director have nonetheless not been granted permission to attend the match.
This story has been up to date with extra info.