Omar Abdulkadir Artan, named Africa’s best male referee in 2025, was denied entry to the United States and subsequently dropped from the FIFA World Cup. Artan was set to become the first Somali national to officiate at the tournament after being selected as one of 52 referees. He had traveled to Miami International Airport to join other officials at their training base before being turned back.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection cited vetting concerns for the decision, with officials later stating that Artan was refused admission due to associations with suspected members of terror organizations and deemed a threat to national security. Artan, who held a valid visa and reported undergoing an 11-hour immigration interview, was among citizens of countries subject to travel restrictions under the Trump administration's immigration crackdown.
FIFA stated it was not involved in the host country's immigration processes and confirmed that Artan would be unable to train or officiate at the event. Because all participating referees were required to stay at the Miami training hub for logistical and security reasons, Artan was unable to referee matches in the U.S., Mexico, or Canada. The move drew international outrage and raised questions among some fans about the United States' capacity to host the global competition.
Upon returning to Mogadishu, Artan received a hero's welcome from hundreds of supporters and government officials. Despite the disappointment, Artan described the situation as fate and thanked FIFA, the Confederation of African Football, and the Somali people for their support. He urged Somali youth not to lose hope in their country and vowed to officiate at the 2030 World Cup.