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World Cup ref from Somalia denied entry to U.S.

ESPN · Jun 8, 2026, 10:08 PM · Also reported by 2 other sources

Key takeaways

  • Somali referee Omar Artan has been denied entry into the United States after getting selected to officiate at the World Cup.
  • Customs and Border Protection confirmed Monday that a Somali national who was planning to referee in the World Cup had been denied entry after arriving to Miami International Airport from Istanbul on Saturday.
  • "During processing, the traveler underwent additional inspection, a routine part of CBP's inspection process when officers need to verify information or determine admissibility," CBP said in its statement.

Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.

Somali referee Omar Artan has been denied entry into the United States after getting selected to officiate at the World Cup.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection confirmed Monday that a Somali national who was planning to referee in the World Cup had been denied entry after arriving to Miami International Airport from Istanbul on Saturday. While the CBP statement didn't mention the person by name, Artan is the only World Cup referee from Somalia.

"During processing, the traveler underwent additional inspection, a routine part of CBP's inspection process when officers need to verify information or determine admissibility," CBP said in its statement. "Following inspection, the traveler, a referee for the FIFA World Cup, was determined to be inadmissible due to vetting concerns and was denied entry."

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