US Official Reveals Why Somalia’s Omar Artan Was Blocked From 2026 World Cup

A US official has disclosed the reason Somali referee Omar Artan was denied entry into the United States, a decision that ultimately ruled him out of officiating at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Artan, 34, had been set to make history as the first Somali referee to work at a World Cup finals after being selected among 52 match officials for the tournament.

However, his journey ended at Miami International Airport, where US authorities refused him entry despite him holding a diplomatic passport and a valid single-entry visa.

According to a source within President Donald Trump’s administration via the BBC, border officials uncovered information during further screening that made Artan ineligible to enter the country.

The source said: “This individual was seeking admission to the United States. Upon further inspection by CBP [Custom and Border Protection], derogatory information, including association with suspected members of terror organisations, was discovered making the traveller ineligible for admission to the United States under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).

“The traveller 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.”

Naija News reports that the revelation comes days after reports emerged that Artan had been subjected to an 11-hour immigration interview before being detained and placed on a flight out of the United States.

Speaking to The New York Times, the Somali official said he was questioned about alleged links to militant group Al Shabab but insisted he knew nothing about the organisation.

Artan’s exclusion effectively ended his World Cup assignment before it began. All referees selected for the tournament are required to be based in Florida for training, preparation and security, making participation impossible without entry into the United States.

The decision was also defended by Andrew Giuliani, head of the White House Task Force on the World Cup.

“While I can’t go into the derog [derogatory information] on that I can tell you it was the right decision by customs and border patrol and I support that decision,” Giuliani told BBC World Service.

Artan returned to Somalia on Wednesday, where he was welcomed by government officials, representatives of the Somali Football Federation and supporters at Mogadishu’s Aden Adde International Airport.

His removal from the World Cup outing comes against the backdrop of the Trump administration’s travel restrictions, which include Somalia among a list of countries facing entry bans or heightened scrutiny.