Selected as World Cup Referee and Granted Visa, Yet Denied Entry: "Everything Was Approved!"

Omar Artan, the first referee from Somalia selected to officiate matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, has been denied entry into the United States.

Foreign media outlets, including the AP and The Guardian, reported that "Omar Artan, who was set to become the first referee in Somali history to officiate at a World Cup, was denied entry into the U.S." They added, "Despite holding a valid travel visa, Artan was refused entry at Miami International Airport on June 7."

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) confirmed that a Somali national scheduled to serve as a referee for this World Cup was denied entry after arriving at Miami International Airport on a flight from Istanbul.

While the CBP statement did not mention the individual by name, Artan is the only referee of Somali nationality among those selected for this World Cup.

Artan, who has been a FIFA referee since 2018, was named the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Referee of the Year last year and was set to be the first official from Somalia to referee at the 2026 World Cup.

Although he had obtained a U.S. visa and was even issued a diplomatic passport by the Somali Embassy in Nairobi, it is reported that the CBP denied his entry immediately upon his arrival at Miami International Airport and placed him on a return flight to Istanbul.

Somalia is one of the countries subject to the travel ban introduced by the Trump administration.

Ise Aden Abshir, a former captain of the Somali national team, criticized the decision in an interview, stating, "Artan is one of the most respected referees in Africa and deserves the support of the entire football community." He added, "This denial of entry not only hurts an individual but also undermines the football community's commitment to fairness, meritocracy, and the spirit of fair play."

Following the denial of his entry into the U.S., FIFA has decided to remove Artan from the World Cup officiating panel.

A FIFA spokesperson stated, "FIFA has no influence over the decisions of the United States," adding that "the approval of entry is the sovereign right of the U.S."

Recently, as part of its anti-immigration policies, the U.S. has restricted visa issuance to several countries, including Haiti and Senegal, blocking entry for football fans. The denial of entry to even a FIFA-accredited referee has sparked growing public criticism.

Reported by Kim Taewon | Video by Hong Jinyoung | Graphics by Lee Jeongju | Produced by SBS Digital News
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.