Somali Referee Omar Artan Denied US Entry, Ruled Out of World Cup

A cloud has formed over the build-up to the World Cup after **Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan** was **denied entry into the United States**, ruling him out of officiating at the tournament. The decision has drawn scrutiny over the host nation's immigration policies.

Artan arrived at Miami International Airport from Istanbul on Saturday and was denied entry by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The CBP said the traveller was "determined to be inadmissible due to vetting concerns," describing the additional inspection as a routine step taken when officers need to verify information or confirm admissibility.

Artan was the **only Somali among the 52 referees** hand-picked by FIFA for the tournament and the first from his country selected to officiate in the men's World Cup finals. Somalia appears on the U.S. list of countries subject to immigration restrictions, though exceptions can be made. FIFA reiterated that it plays no role in the immigration or visa processes of host countries.

Artan said he remained in a positive mood and was focused on the next challenges in his refereeing career. The episode nonetheless adds to a series of access and travel concerns hanging over a World Cup spread across three nations with differing entry rules.