Somali ref denied visa due to ‘terrorist organisation link’ says White House

Award-winning Somali referee Omar Artan, set to be the first from his country to officiate at the World Cup, was denied entry to the United States, a sports ministry official told AFP on June 8, 2026. Picture: KENZO TRIBOUILLARD / AFP

The head of the White House Task Force for the Fifa World Cup on Tuesday defended the decision not to grant visas to a Somali referee and some support staff for the Iranian team.

"To this point we've had 35 teams that have come into the United States," Andrew Giuliani, the executive director of the task force, said at an event hosted by the Atlantic Council in Washington.

"No players, no coaches have been denied," Giuliani said. "There have been some officials that have been denied, and for good reason."

A US State Department official told AFP late Tuesday that the referee was "associated with suspected members of terrorist organisations," therefore "making the traveler ineligible for admission to the United States".