A leading Somali football referee has been denied entry to the United States to officiate at the World Cup after falling victim to President Trump’s racist and Islamophobic travel restrictions on several Muslim-majority countries.
The decision has sparked criticism from Somali officials, rights groups and football figures, who say politics is overshadowing the spirit of the game.
Omar Artan, one of Africa’s most respected referees, was due to become the first Somali referee ever to oversee a World Cup match. However, U.S. authorities stopped him after he arrived at Miami International Airport over the weekend.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security later confirmed that Artan had been denied entry after being deemed inadmissible due to unspecified vetting concerns.
Officials did not provide further details about the decision. His arrival in the United States suggests he had already obtained a valid visa before travelling.
FIFA confirmed on Monday that Artan will no longer be able to train or officiate during the tournament. The organisation stressed that immigration decisions ultimately rest with host governments.
A FIFA statement said it had been informed that Artan’s immigration status would not be changed. It added that the governing body does not intervene in visa or border control decisions.
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Artan has built a distinguished career despite the difficult conditions faced by officials in Somalia. He has previously spoken about changing routes to stadiums because of explosions and security threats.
In an interview earlier this year, he described appearing at the World Cup as a great honour. He said reaching that stage required perseverance and sacrifice.
Artan was named Africa’s best referee last year. He officiated at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations and has held FIFA referee status since 2018.
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has previously praised him as an inspiration for younger generations.
Travel restrictions
Somalia remains on President Donald Trump’s travel ban list. The decision to exclude Artan has renewed scrutiny of U.S. immigration policies ahead of the World Cup.
Somali officials condemned the move and called on the international football community to support the referee.
Ciise Aden Abshir, a senior adviser at Somalia’s Ministry of Youth and Sports, said the decision harmed both Artan and football’s commitment to fairness and merit.
Rights groups also criticised the exclusion. The Council on American-Islamic Relations described nationality-based restrictions as inconsistent with American values.
Edward Ahmed Mitchell, the organisation’s deputy director, argued that Somali visitors already undergo extensive screening before receiving visas. He said there was no justification for denying entry solely because of nationality.
The controversy is the latest in a series of immigration disputes linked to the tournament.
Iran’s national team has encountered visa difficulties for months. The country’s World Cup base was eventually moved to Mexico because of concerns surrounding travel to the United States.
Iranian officials recently claimed support staff members were denied visas shortly before travelling. Meanwhile, Iraqi striker Aymen Hussein was reportedly detained and questioned for several hours upon arrival in Chicago.
Swiss international Breel Embolo was also denied an entry visa before Swiss authorities successfully appealed the decision.
Concerns have also been raised about increased immigration enforcement around World Cup venues.
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani criticised plans for a major deployment of Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers during the tournament.
He argued that immigrants are central to football’s success both on and off the pitch. He pledged that New York would stand with immigrant communities as the world arrives for the competition.
The United States, Canada and Mexico are jointly hosting the expanded 2026 World Cup. The tournament will feature a record 104 matches and is expected to attract millions of supporters from around the world.
