Somali World Cup Referee Denied Entry to the U.S. Due to Security Concerns

The United States denied entry to Omar Artan, a Somali referee scheduled to officiate at the FIFA World Cup 2026, due to his association with suspected members of terror organizations. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) stated that Artan was denied entry upon his arrival at Miami International Airport from Istanbul on June 6, 2026, after officials discovered derogatory information during routine processing. This information rendered him ineligible for admission under the Immigration and Nationality Act. A senior administration official indicated that the decision was made to prevent any potential security threats from entering the country. FIFA later confirmed that Artan would not be able to participate in the World Cup and released a statement on his behalf, expressing his positive outlook for future challenges in his refereeing career. CBP clarified that admissibility determinations are made on a case-by-case basis, considering law enforcement and national security information available at the time of inspection.