Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan was barred from entering the United States days before the 2026 World Cup began. Selected among 52 officials and one of seven Africans, he would have become the first Somali to officiate at the tournament. Artan flew to Miami on Saturday, presented a visa and FIFA credentials, yet border agents detained him, sparking disappointment across Somalia's football community.

After an 11‑hour interview, officials moved Artan to a holding cell before sending him back to Istanbul. U.S. Customs and Border Protection said he was deemed inadmissible due to “vetting concerns,” offering no further explanation. Artan claimed the questioning focused on Somali politics and Al Shabab, suggesting bias against his country. Artan also noted that officials asked about his family, increasing the sense of humiliation.

The incident revives scrutiny of U.S. travel bans that tightened under the Trump administration, which labeled Somali immigrants “garbage” and questioned Somalia’s statehood. FIFA confirmed it cannot intervene in host‑country immigration decisions, leaving Artan without a venue in Canada or Mexico. His exclusion highlights how geopolitical tensions can disrupt staffing for high‑profile sporting events.