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Award-winning Somali referee Omar Artan has been dropped from the FIFA World Cup 2026 after being denied entry to the United States, FIFA confirmed Monday.
The tournament begins this Thursday.
Artan landed at Miami International Airport on Saturday after flying from Istanbul. He was denied entry after a routine inspection by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
FIFA later confirmed that he will not take part in the tournament. He would have been the first Somali referee to officiate at a World Cup.
"FIFA can confirm that match official Omar Abdulkadir Artan will be unable to train and officiate at the FIFA World Cup 2026 after he was denied entry into the United States," a FIFA spokesperson told Agence France-Presse (AFP).
CBP said Artan underwent additional inspection as part of its usual entry process. "Following inspection, the traveler, a referee for the FIFA World Cup, was determined to be inadmissible due to vetting concerns and was denied entry," the agency said.
CBP said that all travelers, including athletes, coaches, and officials, are inspected and vetted. Each case is reviewed individually.
FIFA said it could not influence the decision. "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," the spokesperson said.
"In line with previous FIFA events, a host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and who is admitted into their country."
Somalia is one of several countries affected by a travel ban introduced during President Donald Trump's administration as part of wider immigration enforcement.
A government adviser in Mogadishu told AFP that Artan had a valid U.S. visa when he arrived.
Artan said he will stay focused on his career.
He thanked FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for their support and wished his fellow referees well during the tournament.
Artan was one of 52 referees chosen by FIFA for the World Cup, which Canada, Mexico, and the United States will co-host.
He has officiated in Somalia's national football league since becoming a FIFA referee in 2018 and also refereed at the latest Africa Cup of Nations. In 2025, CAF named him the men's referee of the year.
Ciise Aden Abshir, a senior adviser to Somalia's Ministry of Youth and Sports and a former national team captain, said Artan went back to Istanbul after being turned away in Miami.
"Denying him entry to the United States and preventing him from officiating scheduled matches harms not only him personally but also undermines football's commitment to fairness, merit, and the spirit of fair play," Abshir said.
Somalia's President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud praised Artan in April after his historic selection.
"I commend the effort, professionalism, and integrity shown by referee Omar, as he has become a symbol of inspiration for the new generation of Somalis," Mohamud said.
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