The United States has denied entry to soccer referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan. who had been expected to be the first Somali to officiate at a match in the World Cup.
A FIFA spokesperson said Artan would not be able to train or officiate at the World Cup —. kicks off on Thursday — after he was not allowed to enter the United States over the weekend.
Somalia’s government said it had unsuccessfully tried to negotiate with the US. FIFA so that Artan could enter the country and it was saddened by what had happened.
“His international achievements are a source of honour. pride for the Somali people,” Somalia’s sports ministry said in a statement.
In a press release issued on Tuesday, the Somali Football Federation (SFF) expressed sadness over the situation, calling Artan’s appointment a milestone for the country that resulted from years of dedication, professionalism. integrity.
The SFF said it has not received an official explanation as to why Artan was denied entry to the US, adding that it is working closely with FIFA. the relevant authorities to understand the circumstances of the situation.
A senior Somali official toldReutersthat diplomatic efforts were continuing to try to get Artan into the US for the tournament,. declined to share further details.
A FIFA spokesperson said the organisation “is not involved in host country immigration processes, including visa adjudications,. has been informed by authorities that Mr Artan’s status will not be changed at present”.
Artan said in a statement that despite the circumstances, he was in a positive mood. focused on the next challenges of his refereeing career.
“I would like to thank FIFA. CAF (Confederation of African Football) for all their support and I promise to keep my refereeing levels up as I concentrate on the future,” he said.
It was not clear which game or games Artan would have refereed. although such information is typically only announced two to three days in advance.
Without naming him, the US Customs. Border Protection (CBP) said in a statement that a Somali national arrived at Miami International Airport from Istanbul on Saturday and was deemed inadmissible due to vetting concerns.
The agency did not elaborate on those concerns, but said the referee underwent routine additional inspection before being denied entry.
“Admissibility determinations are made on a case-by-case basis using law enforcement, national security,. immigration information available at the time of inspection,” the CBP said.
The Trump administration’s strict immigration policies have been a point of concern ahead of the World Cup. Last year, Washington imposed a sweeping travel ban on citizens of 12 countries, including Somalia.
Artan, who was named CAF’s Best Male Referee for 2025, had a valid visa, according to media reports.
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