June 10, 2026
A United States official has revealed that Somali referee Omar Artan was denied entry into the country ahead of the FIFA World Cup because of his alleged “association with suspected members of terror organizations.”
The official, who spoke anonymously on Tuesday night, as reported by ESPN, due to visa privacy laws, provided the explanation days after Artan was turned away upon arrival in the U.S.
Earlier on Tuesday, Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House FIFA Task Force, had said Artan was denied entry for a “very good reason” but declined to elaborate.
Artan was refused admission at Miami International Airport on Saturday over what U.S. Customs and Border Protection described as “vetting concerns.” Authorities did not provide further details at the time.
