A United States government official has disclosed that Somali referee Omar Artan was denied entry into the country ahead of the FIFA World Cup due to his alleged association with suspected members of terror organisations.
The official, speaking anonymously on Tuesday night as reported by ESPN, cited visa privacy laws as the reason for not going on record. The explanation came days after Artan was turned away upon arrival in the United States.
Earlier on Tuesday, Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House FIFA Task Force, had said Artan was refused entry for a “very good reason” but declined to provide specifics.
Artan was denied admission at Miami International Airport on Saturday over what U.S. Customs and Border Protection described as “vetting concerns,” without elaborating further.
The Somali Football Federation had secured a visa for Artan through the Somali Embassy in Kenya ahead of the tournament. However, upon arrival in Miami, Artan said he was subjected to an 11-hour interrogation by border officials who questioned him about his visit, Somali politics, and the al-Shabaab militant group, which has been waging an insurgency against Somalia’s government.
Artan told The New York Times that he presented FIFA documentation and photographs from his refereeing career during the session. He was subsequently placed in a holding cell before being deported on a flight back to Istanbul, his point of departure for the United States.
“I think that they have a problem with my country,” Artan told the Times, insisting he had all the correct documents and a valid visa. He also said he was never informed of the specific reason for his denial.
Despite the setback, Artan struck a measured tone. “I’m focused on my future,” the referee said, following FIFA’s confirmation of his removal from the tournament’s list of match officials.
Artan, who was named Africa’s best male referee in 2025, had been set to make history as the first Somali referee to officiate at a FIFA World Cup, having been included in FIFA’s final list of match officials two months ago.
FIFA distanced itself from the situation, stating it had no role in the immigration process and had been informed by U.S. authorities that Artan’s “status will not be changed at present.”
Somalia’s Youth and Sports Ministry said its embassy in the United States is actively working to resolve the matter, hoping to secure Artan’s participation before the tournament kicks off on Thursday.
The episode has reignited concerns over the Trump administration’s sweeping immigration restrictions. Somalia is among nearly 40 countries subject to new travel measures, prompting fears that fans, players and officials from those nations may face entry difficulties despite holding valid visas.
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