Somali referee Omar Artan has spoken of his heartbreak after being denied entry into the United States, a decision that ultimately cost him the opportunity to officiate at the FIFA World Cup 2026.
Artan, who was named Referee of the Year in 2025 by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), was removed from FIFA’s list of match officials after being refused entry upon arriving in Miami on Saturday.
The decision comes amid travel restrictions imposed by the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, with Somalia among the countries affected.
Read Also: Omar Artan U.S. entry denial triggers World Cup outrage
“I am very, very disappointed,” Artan told The New York Times in a telephone interview from Istanbul on Tuesday.
“I’m just simply a referee who’s trying to live his dream, the biggest dream of my life, to come to the World Cup.”
Detained Before Deportation
Artan revealed that he underwent an 11-hour interview with border officials before being taken to a holding cell, where he was detained for several more hours before being placed on a flight back to Istanbul.
“I had the right papers and everything. I had the right visa,” he said.
The experienced official had been expected to become one of the African referees at the expanded 48-team World Cup, which kicks off on Thursday.
FIFA Says Entry Decisions Rest with Host Nation
FIFA distanced itself from the decision, insisting that visa approvals and entry into a host country remain the responsibility of national authorities.
“In line with previous FIFA events, a host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and who is admitted into their country,” a FIFA spokesperson said.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said Artan was denied entry following a routine inspection process.
“The traveller underwent additional inspection, a routine part of CBP’s inspection process when officers need to verify information or determine admissibility,” the statement read.
“Following inspection, the traveller, a referee for the FIFA World Cup, was determined to be inadmissible due to vetting concerns and was denied entry.”
Somalia Expresses Regret
The Somali government condemned Artan’s exclusion from the tournament, describing him as one of the country’s finest sporting ambassadors.
“Artan represents the very best of Somali talent,” Somalia’s Ministry of Sports said in a statement expressing its “deep regret” over the development.
His case adds to the growing controversy surrounding the World Cup before a ball has even been kicked. Iran has already been forced to relocate its training base to Mexico due to geopolitical tensions.
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