Somali referee denied US entry, dropped from FIFA World Cup 2026
Key takeaways
- Omar Artan, Africa's top referee in 2025, was set to become the first Somali national to officiate at a FIFA World Cup before being denied entry by US authorities
- Omar Artan was turned away on Saturday after arriving at Miami International Airport and told to return to Istanbul, from where he had flown.
- United States Customs and Border Protection said Artan was denied entry due to "vetting concerns" that made him "inadmissible."
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
Omar Artan, Africa's top referee in 2025, was set to become the first Somali national to officiate at a FIFA World Cup before being denied entry by US authorities
https://p.dw.com/p/5F2kv Omar Artan was turned back when he arrived at Miami International Airport on Saturday Image: Thor Wegner/De Fodi Images/picture alliance Advertisement A Somali referee set to become his country's first to officiate a World Cup match has been denied entry into the US, ending his involvement in the football tournament.
Omar Artan was turned away on Saturday after arriving at Miami International Airport and told to return to Istanbul, from where he had flown. He was named Africa's best referee in 2025.