News Focus
- Omar Artan was set to become the first Somali match official at a World Cup finals.
- US immigration authorities stopped him at Miami International Airport and sent him to Turkey.
- The 2025 CAF Referee of the Year held valid travel papers, including a special government passport.
- FIFA has confirmed Artan will not officiate at the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
- Somalia appears on a current US travel ban list, which affects several countries.
Omar Artan has lost his chance to make history. The Somali official was due to become the first referee from his country to take charge of matches at the FIFA World Cup. However, immigration officers in the United States refused him entry.
Officials at Miami International Airport blocked Artan from entering the country. He is now staying in Turkey. The 2025 CAF Men’s Referee of the Year held valid papers, including a diplomatic passport arranged by Somali authorities to help him travel.
No official reason has come from US border control. Yet Somalia sits on a travel restriction list created by President Donald Trump’s government. This ban affects several nations.
FIFA released a statement about the situation. The world governing body said Artan cannot train or referee at the 2026 tournament. They explained that host countries alone decide who receives visas and who may cross their borders.
“Fifa is not involved in host country immigration processes,” the statement noted. Officials added that US authorities told them Artan’s case would not change.
Artan spoke about the setback with a positive attitude. He thanked FIFA and CAF for their help. He also promised to maintain his high standards and hopes to work at future competitions.
The Somali Football Federation wants urgent answers. They have contacted FIFA for clarification. A senior official from Somalia’s ministry of youth and sports confirmed to the BBC that Artan carried proper documents.
Andrew Giuliani, who heads the White House Task Force on the World Cup, backed the decision. He refused to share specific details but stated that customs officials made the correct choice.
Artan became a FIFA referee in 2018. He has previously officiated at the Africa Cup of Nations. FIFA had named him among 52 referees for the tournament, which runs from 11 June to 19 July across Canada, Mexico and the United States.