OFFICIAL BAN: US denies Somali World Cup soccer referee entry because of ‘security threat’

The US denied entry to Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan for the World Cup, sparking international outrage and disappointment.

The Trump administration said on Tuesday the US had denied Somali soccer referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan entry for the World Cup because of his links to “suspected members of terror organisations”.

The administration’s strict immigration policies have been a point of concern ahead of the World Cup, with Washington imposing a sweeping travel ban last year on citizens of 12 countries, including Somalia.

Artan, Africa’s referee of the year in 2025, had been set to become the first Somali to officiate at soccer’s global showpiece but was turned back by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) over the weekend.

A Fifa spokesperson said Artan would not be able to train or officiate at the tournament, which kicks off this week in the US, Mexico and Canada.

Somalia’s government said it had unsuccessfully tried to negotiate with the US and Fifa so that Artan could enter the country and was saddened by what had happened.

“His international achievements are a source of honour and pride for the Somali people,” the sports ministry said.

Without identifying Artan, the CBP said a Somali national arrived at Miami International Airport from Istanbul on Saturday and was deemed inadmissible due to vetting concerns.

An administration official said later that CBP officials had determined that Artan was a threat to national security.

That made the traveller ineligible for admission to the US under the Immigration and Nationality Act, the official added.

“President Trump’s administration will not allow any security threat to enter our country, full stop.”

The Somali Football Federation (SFF) expressed sadness over the incident, calling Artan’s appointment a milestone for the country that resulted from years of dedication, professionalism and integrity.

The SFF said it had not received an official explanation why Artan was denied entry, adding that it was working closely with Fifa and relevant authorities to understand the circumstances.

A senior Somali official told Reuters that diplomatic efforts were continuing to try to get Artan into the US for the tournament, but declined to provide further details.

A Fifa spokesperson said the organisation “is not involved in host country immigration processes, including visa adjudications, and has been informed by authorities that Mr Artan’s status will not be changed at present”.

Speaking to Reuters at Istanbul airport on Tuesday before boarding a flight to Somalia, Artan said he was in good spiri