Somali referee banned from entry to US for FIFA World Cup has ties to terrorists

A Somali referee selected to officiate at the 2026 FIFA World Cup has been barred from entering the United States after federal authorities discovered information linking him to suspected members of terrorist organizations.

Omar Artan, Somalia's only referee appointed to the tournament, was denied admission after arriving at Miami International Airport from Istanbul on Saturday. According to a Trump administration official who spoke to Fox News, Customs and Border Protection officers uncovered "derogatory" information during an inspection that rendered Artan inadmissible under federal immigration law.

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In a statement provided to Fox News, the administration said, "This individual was seeking admission to the United States. Upon further inspection by CBP, derogatory information, including association with suspected members of terror organizations, was discovered making the traveler ineligible for admission to the United States under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). The traveler was refused admission and given immigration forms that provide the section of law used to complete an expedited removal under 8235 of the INA. President Trump's administration will not allow any security threat to enter our country - full stop."

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The decision effectively ends Artan's participation in the World Cup, which is being hosted in part by the United States. FIFA confirmed Monday that Artan would no longer take part in referee training or officiate matches during the tournament. The organization said it had been informed by US authorities that his immigration status would not be changed.

"In line with previous FIFA events, a host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and who is admitted into their country," FIFA said in a statement.

Artan, speaking through FIFA, said he intends to continue pursuing his refereeing career despite the setback.

"Despite the circumstances, I am in a positive mood and I am focused on the next challenges in my refereeing career," Artan said. "I would like to thank FIFA and (the African federation) for all their support and I promise to keep my refereeing levels up as I concentrate on the future. I want to thank the football family for their messages and wish my colleagues all the best success during the World Cup and I look forward to joining them again in future competitions."

Customs and Border Protection also released a statement defending the decision, saying the referee underwent additional screening as part of standard inspection procedures. "Following inspection, the traveler, a referee for the FIFA World Cup, was determined to be inadmissible due to vetting concerns and was denied entry."

The agency noted that all travelers seeking admission to the United States, including athletes, coaches, officials, and support staff, are subject to federal screening and admissibility reviews. The incident comes as the Trump administration continues to emphasize stricter immigration enforcement and national security vetting ahead of major international events hosted on American soil.