Somali Referee Omar Artan Denied U.S. Entry, Removed from FIFA Tournament Amid Security Vetting Concerns

MOGADISHU: Somalia’s World Cup referee Omar Artan, who was set to make history as the first official from his country to officiate at a FIFA World Cup, has been denied entry into the United States and subsequently removed from the tournament, according to officials and media reports.

Artan, who had been included in FIFA’s final list of referees for the upcoming tournament announced two months ago, is regarded as one of Africa’s leading match officials. In 2025, he was named the continent’s best male referee, further cementing his rising international profile.

However, he was refused entry at Miami International Airport on Saturday over what U.S. Customs and Border Protection described as “vetting concerns,” though no further details were provided. The Somalia Embassy in Kenya confirmed that he had been issued a visa only last week prior to his travel.

Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House FIFA Task Force, stated that the referee was denied entry for “very good reason,” but did not elaborate further.

Later, a U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity due to visa privacy regulations, said the refusal was linked to alleged “association with suspected members of terror organizations.”

FIFA has since removed Artan from the tournament roster following the incident, marking a major setback for what had been a historic milestone in Somali football officiating.