A Somali referee set to become his country's first to officiate a World Cup match has been denied entry into the US, ending his involvement in the football tournament.
Omar Artan was turned away on Saturday after arriving at Miami International Airport and told to return to Istanbul, from where he had flown. He was named Africa's best referee in 2025.
United States Customs and Border Protection said Artan was denied entry due to "vetting concerns" that made him "inadmissible."
Artan said he remained positive despite the circumstances and was focused on his next refereeing challenges.
"I thank FIFA and CAF for their support and will maintain my refereeing standards as I look ahead," 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."
