The FIFA World Cup 2026 referee denied entry into the United States for this year’s tournament was turned away over suspected ties to terrorist organizations.
Omar Artan, from Somalia, arrived at Miami International Airport on Saturday after departing from Istanbul. He was turned away at the airport by U.S. Customs and Border Protection due to “vetting concerns.” No other information about Artan being denied entry to the country was provided until today, when a Trump administration official released an updated statement.
“This individual was seeking admission to the United States,” read the statement provided to Fox News. “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,” read the statement. President Trump’s administration will not allow any security threat to enter our country – full stop.”
Previously, CBP released a statement indicating that concerning information was discovered during an additional inspection Artan went through upon arriving in Miami. CBP never elaborated on what information found during the background check made him “inadmissible.”
“During processing, the traveler underwent additional inspection, a routine part of CBP’s inspection process when officers need to verify information or determine admissibility,” read the statement by CBP. “Following inspection, the traveler, a referee for the FIFA World Cup, was determined to be inadmissible due to vetting concerns and was denied entry.”
Artan was initially selected as one of 52 referees for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America. He was one of seven referees from Africa and would have been the first Somalian referee in World Cup history, according to multiple reports. CBP explained that decisions on whether to admit people into the country are made on a “case-by-case basis.”
“Admissibility determinations are made on a case-by-case basis using law enforcement, national security, and immigration information available at the time of inspection,” read a statement by CBP. “CBP officers have the authority to question travelers, conduct inspections, and determine admissibility consistent with U.S. law.”
In an interview with The New York Times, Artan said he did everything that was asked of him by U.S. officials and that he was interviewed for 11 hours by immigration officials at the airport. He claimed he “had the right papers and everything” but was still denied entry. He claims no official explained to him the reason why he was not allowed to enter the U.S.
US DENIES ENTRY TO WORLD CUP REFEREE FROM SOMALIA OVER ‘VETTING CONCERNS’
“I think that they have a problem with my country,” Artan told The New York Times.
He expressed his disappointment with the rejection and his inability to fulfill his dream of becoming a referee at the FIFA World Cup.
“I am very, very disappointed,” said Artan. “I’m just simply a referee who’s trying to live his dream, the biggest dream of my life, to come to the World Cup.”
