The United States has denied entry to football referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, who had been expected to be the first Somali to officiate a World Cup match.
US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said in a statement that a Somali national arrived at Miami International Airport from Istanbul on Saturday, without naming him, and that he was deemed inadmissible due to vetting concerns.
The agency did not elaborate on those concerns, but said the individual underwent routine additional inspection before being denied entry.
"Admissibility determinations are made on a case by case basis using law enforcement, national security and immigration information available at the time of inspection," the CBP said.
Artan, who is an award-winning Somali referee and was named the Confederation of African Football's Best Male Referee for 2025, had a valid visa, according to media reports.
Somalia's embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
'FIFA is not involved'
A FIFA spokesperson said on Monday that Artan will not be able to train and officiate at the World Cup, which kicks off on Thursday, after he was not allowed to enter the US.
"FIFA is not involved in host country immigration processes, including visa adjudications, and has been informed by authorities that Mr Artan's status will not be changed at present," the spokesperson said.
Artan said in a statement that despite the circumstances he was in a positive mood and focused on the next challenges of his refereeing career.
"I would like to thank FIFA and CAF for all their support and I promise to keep my refereeing levels up as I concentrate on the future," he said.
"I want to thank the football family for their messages and wish my colleagues all the best success during the World Cup and I look forward to joining them again in future competitions."
Travel bans
The Trump administration's strict immigration policies have been a point of concern ahead of this World Cup.
Last year, Washington imposed a sweeping travel ban on citizens of 12 countries, including Somalia.
A government adviser in Mogadishu said on Monday that Artan had a valid visa for the US.
"Omar Artan is among Africa's most respected referees and deserves the support of the entire football community," Ciise Aden Abshir, a senior adviser to Somalia's Ministry of Youth and Sports and a former national team captain, said.
Abshir said Artan flew back to Istanbul after being refused entry in Miami.
(with newswires)
