{"id":3302,"date":"2026-06-09T10:38:18","date_gmt":"2026-06-09T10:38:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/?p=3302"},"modified":"2026-06-09T10:38:18","modified_gmt":"2026-06-09T10:38:18","slug":"world-cup-ref-from-somalia-who-was-denied-entry-to-the-us-was-about-to-make-history-for-his-country","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/?p=3302","title":{"rendered":"World Cup ref from Somalia who was denied entry to the US was about to make history for his country"},"content":{"rendered":"
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FILE – Referee Omar Artan, center, signals a penalty during the CAF Champions League final soccer match between AS FAR Rabat and Mamelodi Sundowns, in Rabat, Morocco, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo\/Mosa\u2019ab Elshamy, File)<\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n

MOGADISHU, Somalia \u2014 The World Cup<\/a> referee from Somalia who was denied entry to the United States<\/a> after arriving in Miami and subsequently dropped from the tournament by FIFA<\/a> was set to make history for his country.<\/p>

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Omar Artan was due to be the first referee from Somalia<\/a> to officiate at the World Cup after making FIFA\u2019s final list for the tournament, which was announced two months ago. He is one of Africa\u2019s top referees and was named the continent\u2019s best male referee in 2025 by the African soccer body.<\/p>\n

He was denied entry at Miami International Airport on Saturday over \u201cvetting concerns,\u201d U.S. Customs and Border Protection<\/a> said in a statement without giving details of those concerns. Artan was issued a visa to travel to the U.S. last week, according to the Somalia Embassy in Kenya that processed it.<\/p>\n

The move to deny a FIFA-appointed match official permission to enter the World Cup is highly unusual. Artan was due to meet up with other World Cup referees at their training base in Miami.<\/p>\n

The Somalia Sports and Youth Ministry said on Tuesday that it had not been told why Artan was denied entry and its embassy in the U.S. was making diplomatic efforts to resolve the problem and still allow Artan to referee at the World Cup, which opens on Thursday<\/a> .<\/p>\n

Somalia was one of the countries subjected to new travel restrictions<\/a> last year under the Trump administration\u2019s crackdown on immigration<\/a> . That raised concerns that fans, players and officials from those countries \u2014 most of which are African \u2014 might be denied entry for the World Cup due to the larger crackdown despite having valid visas.<\/p>\n

\u201cDuring processing, the traveler underwent additional inspection, a routine part of CBP\u2019s inspection process when officers need to verify information or determine admissibility,\u201d CBP said in its statement on Monday. \u201cFollowing inspection, the traveler, a referee for the FIFA World Cup, was determined to be inadmissible due to vetting concerns and was denied entry.\u201d<\/p>\n

It didn\u2019t name Artan and referred only to a Somali national who is a World Cup referee. Artan is the only Somali referee selected for the tournament.<\/p>\n

CBP said all travelers seeking entry into the U.S. \u2014 including World Cup players, coaches and staff \u2014 were subject to CBP inspection and vetting.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdmissibility determinations are made on a case-by-case basis using law enforcement, national security, and immigration information available at the time of inspection,\u201d the CBP statement said. \u201cCBP officers have the authority to question travelers, conduct inspections, and determine admissibility consistent with U.S. law.\u201d<\/p>\n

FIFA said it was not involved in the immigration processes and was informed by U.S. authorities that Artan\u2019s \u201cstatus will not be changed at present.\u201d It said Artan wouldn\u2019t be able to train and officiate at the World Cup.<\/p>

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\u201cIn line with previous FIFA events, a host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and who is admitted into their country,\u201d FIFA said.<\/p>\n

Still, FIFA and its president Gianni Infantino<\/a> built close ties to U.S. President Donald Trump\u2019s government<\/a> as the U.S. prepared to co-host with Mexico and Canada, and had publicly stressed how that would help the World Cup run smoothly.<\/p>\n

Infantino did not immediately comment on the issue, while FIFA released a statement on behalf of Artan.<\/p>\n

\u201cDespite the circumstances, I am in a positive mood and I am focused on the next challenges in my refereeing career,\u201d Artan said in the statement. \u201cI would like to thank FIFA and (the African soccer confederation) for all their support and I promise to keep my refereeing levels up as I concentrate on the future.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want to thank the football family for their messages and wish my colleagues all the best success during the World Cup and I look forward to joining them again in future competitions.\u201d<\/p>\n

Artan was praised as one of Africa\u2019s best referees and was the ref for the decisive leg of the African Champions League final last month \u2014 Africa\u2019s biggest club soccer game.<\/p>\n

He spoke in a recent interview with the Al Jazeera TV network about how he was honored to be selected to be the first Somali to referee at the World Cup and how he faced challenges in his conflict-torn country in East Africa<\/a> , including sometimes having to change his route to training because of explosions in the streets of the capital, Mogadishu.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou cannot give up as a referee,\u201d Artan said in the interview. This (going to the World Cup) was my big, big target and I\u2019m really excited.\u201d<\/p>\n

___<\/p>\n

Imray reported from Cape Town, South Africa. AP Sports Writer Graham Dunbar in Geneva contributed.<\/p>

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___<\/p>\n

AP World Cup: https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/fifa-world-cup<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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