A Somali referee was on Monday dropped from the World Cup after he was denied entry to the United States, reigniting concerns about how Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown could disrupt the tournament.
Omar Artan was set to be the first match official from Somalia to referee at a World Cup finals, but he was turned back when he arrived at Miami International Airport on Saturday. The United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said Artan was denied entry due to “vetting concerns”.
World football’s governing body FIFA said it was powerless to influence the decision, which it maintained was the sole preserve of tournament co-hosts the United States, and confirmed that Artan would play no part in the World Cup. “FIFA can confirm that match official Omar Abdulkadir Artan will be unable to train and officiate at the FIFA World Cup 2026 after he was denied entry into the United States,” a FIFA spokesperson told AFP.
Somalia is one of several countries on a travel ban list introduced by US President Trump’s administration as part of a broader immigration crackdown.