Somali referee Omar Artan, one of 52 officials selected for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, will miss the tournament after U.S.authorities denied him entry upon arrival at Miami International Airport.

Artan, who would have become the first Somali referee to officiate a World Cup match, said he had all required travel documents, including a valid visa and FIFA credentials.

Despite this, he was subjected to an extensive inspection process, questioned for approximately 11 hours, detained for several more hours, and ultimately placed on a flight back to Istanbul without being given a detailed explanation for the decision.U.S.

Customs and Border Protection stated that Artan was found inadmissible due to unspecified vetting concerns following additional inspection but did not provide further details.

Artan expressed deep disappointment, describing participation in the World Cup as the greatest ambition of his professional career and a source of pride for Somalia.

He suggested that his nationality may have played a role in the decision, noting the travel restrictions currently imposed on Somali citizens by the Trump administration.Artan had spent four years preparing for the tournament through FIFA training programs in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.FIFA confirmed that he would not be able to officiate at the competition and emphasized that it does not control host-country immigration decisions.The incident comes amid broader concerns about travel and entry issues affecting World Cup participants.The article also highlights difficulties faced by Iranian football officials and supporters, including visa delays and ticket allocation disputes.

These developments have raised questions about the impact of immigration and political considerations on the organization of an international sporting event intended to bring nations together.