Key facts
- Somali World Cup referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan was denied entry into the US.
- US immigration authorities cited unspecified vetting concerns for the denial.
- FIFA has removed Artan from the 2026 World Cup officiating roster.
- Artan was reportedly traveling with valid documents and a diplomatic passport.
- Iran's World Cup ticket allocation was cancelled, and 13 delegation members remain without visas.
- The Iranian team will base itself in Mexico, while other delegations faced issues upon arrival.
FIFA has removed Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan from the 2026 World Cup officiating roster after US authorities denied him entry into the United States, ending his potential debut at the tournament. Artan, who has been a FIFA official since 2018 and was named the Confederation of African Football's men's referee of the year in 2025, was barred from entering the US at Miami International Airport and is currently in Turkey.
US immigration authorities have not publicly provided a specific reason for the decision, citing unspecified vetting concerns. In a statement, FIFA confirmed Artan's inability to participate after discussions with US authorities, emphasizing that it is not involved in host country immigration processes, including visa adjudications. FIFA was informed that Artan's status would not be changed at present.
Artan was one of 52 referees selected for the World Cup, co-hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico. A senior adviser to Somalia's Ministry of Youth and Sports confirmed the denial of entry, stating Artan had been traveling with valid documents and had been issued a diplomatic passport to facilitate travel after previous visa difficulties. Andrew Giuliani, leading the White House Task Force on the World Cup, supported the customs and border patrol's decision.
In a separate but related development, Iran's World Cup ticket allocation has been cancelled, and 13 delegation members remain without visas, forcing the team to base itself in Mexico. Other delegations have also faced difficulties, with an Iraqi striker held for seven hours in Chicago and Senegalese players reportedly body-searched upon arrival.