08/06/2026
Celebrated Somali referee Omar Artan denied US entry while travelling to Miami for 2026 World Cup
MIAMI, U.S.— Acclaimed Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, named Africa’s Best Referee for 2025, was denied entry into the United States and deported to Istanbul upon arrival at Miami International Airport.
Artan was among the 52 referees announced by FIFA to officiate at the June-July World Cup finals in Canada, Mexico and the United States.
Artan, 34, was travelling for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. His journey was facilitated by the Somali Embassy in Nairobi, which had issued him a diplomatic passport to address visa-related challenges.
Somalia remains on the US travel ban list. The denial comes amid recent remarks by President Donald Trump, who last month described Somali immigrants in America as “all crooks” and in January called Somalia “the worst country in the world.”
Artan received the prestigious Confederation of African Football (CAF) Best Referee award in November 2025.
FIFA Reactions
FIFA has not yet issued an official public statement on the incident. However, the Somali Football Federation has appealed to the world governing body for urgent intervention as the tournament approaches.
Somali sports officials have strongly criticised the decision, with one senior advisor describing it as undermining “football’s commitment to fairness, merit, and the spirit of fair play.”
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