The United States government has disclosed that Somali referee Omar Artan was denied entry into the country ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup over alleged associations with individuals suspected of belonging to terrorist organisations.
According to a US official who spoke anonymously to ESPN on Tuesday due to visa confidentiality regulations, Artan’s admission was blocked because of concerns arising from his alleged links to suspected terror group members.
The explanation came days after the referee was denied entry upon arriving in the United States, sparking widespread debate and concern within the football community.
Earlier, Andrew Giuliani, Executive Director of the White House FIFA Task Force, had stated that Artan was barred from entering the country for a “very good reason,” although he declined to provide specific details.
Artan was stopped at Miami International Airport on Saturday after US Customs and Border Protection officials raised what they described as “vetting concerns.” No additional information was initially provided regarding the decision.
The Somali Embassy in Kenya, which facilitated Artan’s visa application, confirmed that he had been granted a valid US visa before travelling.
Speaking to The New York Times, Artan said he underwent an extensive 11-hour interrogation upon his arrival in Miami. During the questioning, officials reportedly asked him about the purpose of his visit, political developments in Somalia, and the activities of the extremist group al-Shabaab, which has been engaged in a long-running insurgency against the Somali government.
Artan said he presented official FIFA documents and photographs from his refereeing career to support his case.
Despite his explanations, he was later placed in a holding facility and subsequently deported to Istanbul, Turkey, from where he had boarded his connecting flight to the United States.
“I think they have a problem with my country,” Artan told The New York Times, insisting that he possessed all the required travel documents and a valid visa. He also maintained that authorities never informed him of the specific reason for the denial.
The decision has effectively ended Artan’s hopes of officiating at the World Cup. The 2025 African Referee of the Year had been set to become the first Somali official to referee matches at a FIFA World Cup after being named among FIFA’s final list of match officials earlier this year.
FIFA said it was not involved in the immigration process and had been informed by US authorities that Artan’s immigration status would remain unchanged for now.
Meanwhile, Somalia’s Ministry of Youth and Sports said diplomatic efforts are ongoing through the country’s embassy in the United States to seek a resolution that could allow Artan to participate in the tournament.
The incident has drawn international attention because it is highly unusual for a FIFA-appointed World Cup referee to be denied entry by a host nation.
Artan had been expected to join fellow match officials at FIFA’s training camp in Miami ahead of the tournament, which begins on Thursday.
The controversy has also reignited concerns over the impact of the Trump administration’s tightened immigration policies. Somalia is among nearly 40 countries affected by new travel restrictions, prompting fears that fans, athletes and officials from affected nations could face entry challenges even when holding valid visas.
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