Omar Artan, a top African referee who was poised to become the first person from Somalia to officiate at a World Cup, has been denied access to the United States, according to reports. The incident occurred at Miami International Airport over the weekend, despite Artan holding a valid travel visa.
Background and Reaction
Artan, who was named Africa's best referee last year, had been selected to officiate at the upcoming 2026 World Cup. He is one of 170 referees, assistant referees, and video assistant referees overseeing a record 104 matches in the six-week tournament. Somalia is among several countries under a broad travel ban imposed by the Trump administration, and while the exact reasons for Artan's denial remain unclear, Somali officials have condemned the decision.
Ciise Aden Abshir, a senior advisor to Somalia's Ministry of Youth and Sports and a former national team captain, stated: "Omar Artan is among Africa's most respected referees and deserves the support of the entire football community. Denying him entry to the United States and preventing him from officiating scheduled matches harms not only him personally but also undermines football's commitment to fairness, merit, and the spirit of fair play."
Impact on Artan and the Tournament
Artan is currently in Istanbul, where he has been based in recent months. He officiated at the Africa Cup of Nations in 2023 and has been a FIFA referee since 2018. Somalia's President, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, previously described Artan as "a symbol of inspiration for the new generation of Somalis."
Travel issues have long been flagged as a potential risk for this World Cup, especially under the anti-immigration Trump administration. Artan joins a growing list of individuals encountering difficulties entering the US. Iranian players and officials have faced issues for months, with their training base moving from the US to Mexico. This week, Iranian officials claimed support staff were denied visas at the last minute, a claim disputed by the US State Department. Iraqi striker Aymen Hussein was held and questioned for nearly seven hours at Chicago's O'Hare airport, and Swiss midfielder Breel Embolo was denied an entry visa last week, though Swiss authorities successfully appealed.
The football community has been called upon to rally in support of Artan, with Somali officials emphasizing that the decision undermines the principles of fairness and merit in the sport.
