U.S. authorities have barred Somali referee Omar Artan from entering the country ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, citing alleged ties to terrorist networks, according to multiple verified reports. The decision, confirmed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and corroborated by a U.S. government official, marks a significant setback for Artan, who was … Read more
The U.S. has barred Somali referee Omar Artan from entering the country, preventing him from officiating at the FIFA World Cup 2026 after arriving in South Florida on June 7. According to the BBC, Artan was denied entry due to “vetting concerns” despite holding a valid visa, leaving him unable to train or referee matches … Read more
U.S. Bars Somalia’s First FIFA World Cup Referee: Omar Artan’s Historic Bid Ends at Border Somalia’s Omar Artan was poised to make history as the first Somali referee to officiate at a FIFA World Cup final stage, but U.S. immigration authorities denied his entry, scuttling his participation in the tournament. The decision has sparked questions … Read more
FIFA World Cup 2026: Somalia’s Omar Artan Denied Entry as First-Ever Somali Referee Omar Artan, Somalia’s first-ever FIFA-listed referee, was barred from entering the United States for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after U.S. border authorities raised “security concerns” during his visa application. The decision leaves FIFA scrambling to find a replacement for the match … Read more