June 9, 2026
By Adegboyega Adeleye
Somali referee Omar Artan has insisted he had valid travel documents and the appropriate visa after being denied entry into the United States, a decision that has ended his dream of making history at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
According to BBC Sport, Artan underwent an 11-hour immigration interview at Miami International Airport before being refused entry and placed on a return flight to Istanbul, Turkey.
The decision means the 2025 Confederation of African Football (CAF) Men’s Referee of the Year will miss the World Cup, where he had been set to become the first Somali official to referee at football’s biggest tournament.
