According to reports, Omar Artan was denied admission at Miami International Airport despite having a valid visa.
Following the denial of admittance to the United States for the World Cup by Africa’s top referee, the government expressed concerns.
Following the ruling by US immigration authorities, Omar Artan, who was scheduled to be the first Somali to officiate at football’s premier event, was taken off the list of match officials.
The cause for the 34-year-old’s departure has not been made public by those authorities, but Somalia is one of the nations on a list of travel restrictions that US President Donald Trump imposed.
“I’m not in charge of America’s immigration policy,” Liz Kendall, the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation, and Technology, stated to Sky News.
But let me assure you that the World Cup, like all sports, functions best when it is inclusive and features talent from all across our amazing world. The matches and competition are the finest. And that’s what I hope to see at the World Cup.
When Artan arrived at Miami International Airport after winning the 2025 Confederation of African Football (Caf) men’s referee of the year award, he was turned away.
Artan would not participate in the competition, according to Fifa.
“Fifa has been informed by authorities that Mr. Artan’s status will not be changed at this time, and is not involved in host-country immigration processes, including visa decisions,” the governing body stated in a statement. “The host government ultimately determines who is granted a visa and permitted entry into the country, just like with previous Fifa events.”
The Somali Football Federation has since contacted Fifa and urged the football community to defend its official after Artan was refused admission despite apparently having a valid visa.
In a statement, Ciise Aden Abshir, a senior consultant to Somalia’s ministry of youth and sports and a former captain of the national team, said, “Omar Artan is among Africa’s most respected referees and deserves the support of the entire football community.”
Fifa has chosen 52 referees to officiate this summer’s event, which begins on Thursday. Artan is currently reportedly in Istanbul.
Players and officials from Iraq and Iran, with which the US is at war, have also had trouble entering the United States for the World Cup.
Iran’s refusal to grant visas to 15 members of its backroom team, which the Islamic Republic denounced as “discriminatory,” has led US officials to accuse Iran of attempting to “sneak terrorists” into the nation.
Aymen Hussein, an Iraqi striker, was reportedly detained and interrogated for about seven hours at Chicago’s O’Hare airport on Saturday before being granted entry into the United States.
About The Author
