World Cup referee Omar Artan barred from US over alleged terror links, ending his 2026 role

Omar Artan, widely regarded as Africa’s top football referee and selected by FIFA to officiate at the 2026 World Cup, has been denied entry to the United States after US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) cited alleged links to terror organisations. The 34-year-old Somali national was refused admission at Miami International Airport and placed on a return flight to Turkey, where he had been transiting from Kenya.

FIFA subsequently confirmed that Artan would play no part in the tournament, removing him from the official list of referees. The Trump administration defended the decision in a formal statement, saying that “derogatory information, including association with suspected members of terror organizations, was discovered, making the traveller ineligible for admission to the United States under the Immigration and Nationality Act.”

Artan, speaking to the New York Times, said he was “very disappointed” by the outcome. “I had the right papers and everything. I had the right visa,” he said. CBP described the additional screening as “a routine part of CBP’s inspection process when officers need to verify information or determine admissibility.”

The Somali government attempted to intervene on Artan’s behalf but was unsuccessful. Somalia’s sports ministry issued a statement in support of the referee, saying: “His international achievements are a source of honour and pride for the Somali people.” The Somali Football Federation (SFF) said it had received no official explanation for the decision and planned to contact FIFA to escalate its concerns.

Artan received a hero’s welcome on his return to the Somali capital Mogadishu on Wednesday, greeted by hundreds of supporters at the airport. Addressing the crowd, he said: “I promise you, God willing, that I will attend the next one. I want the Somali public to take comfort in this and remain confident.”

The incident has drawn significant attention ahead of the 2026 World Cup, which is co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, raising questions about the vetting process for international officials travelling to work at the tournament.