Customs and Border Protection said in a statement Monday that a Somali World Cup referee arrived at Miami International Airport from Istanbul, Turkey, on June 6, and was barred from entry following additional “routine” inspection. The statement did not mention Artan by name, though he is the only Somali among the 52 FIFA-handpicked referees for the tournament, which kicks off on June 11.
FIFA, in a separate statement released Monday, confirmed that Artan “will be unable to train and officiate at the FIFA World Cup 2026 after he was denied entry” into the U.S. The global soccer governing body reiterated that it is not involved in the immigration processes—including visa decisions—of tournament host countries. This year’s World Cup has three host nations: Canada, Mexico, and the U.S.
It was unclear why immigration authorities denied Artan entry, who is now back in Istanbul. A government official in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, told Agence France-Presse that Artan had a valid U.S. visa.
Ciise Aden Abshir, a senior adviser to Somalia’s Ministry of Youth and Sports, slammed the decision to refuse Artan’s entry, telling AFP on Monday that Artan is “among Africa’s most respected referees and deserves the support of the entire football community.”
Artan became a FIFA referee in 2018 and has officiated in Somali national football league championships. He was named as men’s referee of the year by the Confederation of African Football in 2025.
A former football player himself, Artan got injured while playing, which made him decide to become a referee. He pursued refereeing despite ongoing civil strife in Somalia, telling Al Jazeera that he at times had to navigate around explosions on Somali roads just to reach training at the stadium.
The Somali referee acknowledged the U.S.’s refusal on Monday and said in a statement that, “despite the circumstances,” he was “in a positive mood” and was “focused on the next challenges” in his refereeing career.
Hurdles to World Cup travel
Artan is just one of the travelers who faced difficulties entering the U.S. for the World Cup because of the Trump Administration’s immigration policies.
On Friday, two members of Iraq’s World Cup delegation—player Aymen Hussein and team photographer Talal Salah—were detained at Chicago O’Hare International Airport. Hussein was questioned for about seven hours before being allowed entry, CBS News reported, while Salah was denied entry and sent back home, with CBP similarly citing “vetting concerns.”
And, in the lead-up to the World Cup, more than 120 civil organizations issued a joint travel advisory warning soccer aficionados and fans to “exercise caution” and have an emergency contingency plan when traveling to the U.S., amid the restrictions and limitations on noncitizens’ travel.
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