MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — world cup The referee is from Somalia. denied entry to the United States After arriving in Miami, he was subsequently dropped from the tournament FIFA He ended up making history for his country.
Omar Altan was scheduled to be the first referee. Somalia He was chosen to host the World Cup after FIFA’s final list for the competition was announced two months ago. He is one of Africa’s top referees and was named the best male referee on the continent by the African Football Association in 2025.
He was denied entry Saturday at Miami International Airport due to “vetting concerns.” U.S. Customs and Border Protection said in a statement, without elaborating on those concerns. According to the Somali embassy in Kenya, which handled the formalities, Artan was granted a visa to travel to the United States last week.
The move to deny official permission for FIFA-designated matches to officially participate in the World Cup is highly unusual. Artan was scheduled to meet with other World Cup officials at his training base in Miami.
Somalia’s Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs said Tuesday that it had not been informed of the reason for Artan’s denial of entry and that the embassy in the United States was making diplomatic efforts to resolve the issue and allow Artan to continue refereeing at the World Cup. opens on thursday.
Somalia was one of the affected countries new travel restrictions Last year under the Trump administration immigration crackdown. This raised concerns that fans, players and officials from these countries, most of them African, could be denied entry to the World Cup in a wider crackdown despite having valid visas.
Workers cover the Kansas City Chiefs sign to transform Arrowhead Stadium into Kansas City Stadium, Monday, June 8, 2026, ahead of the FIFA World Cup soccer tournament. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Artan undergoes ‘additional tests’
“During the process, the traveler underwent additional testing, which is a routine part of CBP’s testing process when personnel need to verify information or determine admissibility,” CBP said in a statement Monday. “As a result of the inspection, the traveler, who is a referee for the FIFA World Cup, was determined to be ineligible for entry due to screening concerns and was refused entry.”
He did not mention Mr. Artan by name, only referring to Somalis who will be referees at the World Cup. Mr. Artan is the only Somali referee selected for this tournament.
CBP said all travelers seeking entry to the United States, including World Cup players, coaches and staff, will be subject to CBP inspection and screening.
“Admission decisions are made on a case-by-case basis using law enforcement, national security, and immigration information available at the time of the inspection,” CBP said in a statement. “CBP officers have the authority to question travelers, conduct inspections, and determine admissibility in accordance with U.S. law.”
FIFA removes referees from World Cup
FIFA is not involved in immigration proceedings and said it had been informed by U.S. authorities that Artan’s “current status remains unchanged.” Artan announced that he would not be able to train or referee at the World Cup.
“As with previous FIFA events, the host country’s government will ultimately decide who will receive a visa and who will be allowed entry into their country,” FIFA said in a statement.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino speaks as President Donald Trump looks on on the South Lawn of the White House on Monday, September 9, 2019. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Still, with FIFA President Gianni Infantino built a close relationship with US President Donald Trump Government The United States was preparing to co-host with Mexico and Canada and had publicly highlighted how that would help the World Cup run smoothly.
Infantino did not immediately comment on the matter, but FIFA issued a statement on Altan’s behalf.
“Despite the circumstances, I am feeling positive and focused on the next challenge in my refereeing career,” Artan said in a statement. “I would like to thank FIFA and the (Confederation of African Football) for all their support and pledge to continue raising the level of refereeing while focusing on the future.”
“I would like to thank my football family for their messages and wish all my colleagues the best of success at the World Cup and look forward to playing with them again in future competitions.”
Soldiers patrol the streets of Mogadishu, Somalia, Thursday, June 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Farah Abdi Warsame)
He ended up making Somalia’s history.
Artan has been hailed as one of Africa’s best referees and last month officiated the final of Africa’s biggest club football match, the African Champions League final.
In a recent interview with Al Jazeera Television Network, he spoke about the honor of being the first Somali to be selected to referee a World Cup and how he faced challenges in the match. Conflict-torn country in East AfricaAt one point, they had to reroute their training because of explosions on the streets of the capital, Mogadishu.
“As a referee, you can’t give up,” Artan said in an interview. This (participating in the World Cup) was a big, big goal of mine, so I’m really excited. ”
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Imlay reported from Cape Town, South Africa. AP Sports Writer Graham Dunbar in Geneva contributed.
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