Award-winning Somali referee Omar Artan, who was set to become the first official from Somalia to officiate at a FIFA World Cup, has reportedly been denied entry into the United States ahead of the 2026 tournament.
According to Somali sports officials, Artan was stopped at Miami International Airport despite holding a valid U.S. visa. The reason for the decision was not immediately disclosed, although Somalia is among countries affected by recent U.S. travel restrictions.
A senior adviser to Somalia's Ministry of Youth and Sports, Ciise Aden Abshir, described Artan as one of Africa's most respected referees and said the decision was a setback for both the official and the sport.
Artan has since returned to Istanbul, where he had been residing. Officials argued that preventing him from participating in the tournament undermines football's principles of fairness, merit, and equal opportunity.
The referee was among the 52 match officials selected by FIFA for the 2026 World Cup, which is being hosted jointly by Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
Since becoming a FIFA referee in 2018, Artan has officiated in Somalia's top football league and worked at major continental competitions, including the Africa Cup of Nations. In 2025, he was named Africa's Men's Referee of the Year by the Confederation of African Football.
Earlier this year, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud praised Artan's achievement, describing him as an inspiration to young Somalis after becoming the country's first referee selected for a FIFA World Cup.
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