The United States denied entry over the weekend to Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, who had been set to become the first Somali official to referee at a FIFA World Cup.
A FIFA spokesperson confirmed on Monday that Artan will not be able to train or officiate at the tournament, which begins on Thursday.
“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.
Despite the setback, Artan said he remains in a positive frame of mind and is already looking ahead. “I would like to thank FIFA and CAF for all their support, and I promise to keep my refereeing levels up as I concentrate on the future,” he said in a statement.
“I want to thank the football family for their messages and wish my colleagues all the best of luck during the World Cup. I look forward to joining them again in future competitions.
“U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said a Somali national arrived at Miami International Airport from Istanbul on Saturday and was found inadmissible following vetting concerns. The agency did not name Artan but confirmed he underwent routine additional inspection before being denied entry.
“Admissibility determinations are made on a case-by-case basis using law enforcement, national security, and immigration information available at the time of inspection,” CBP stated.
The incident comes amid heightened scrutiny under the Trump administration’s strict immigration policies. Last year, the U.S. imposed a sweeping travel ban on citizens of 12 countries, including Somalia.
According to media reports, Artan — who was named the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) Best Male Referee for 2025 — held a valid visa. Somalia’s embassy in Washington has not yet commented on the matter.