US bars Somali World Cup referee after Miami airport detention
What's new: US officials cited derogatory information and alleged ties to suspected terror members, ending Omar Artan's 2026 tournament role.
A Somali referee selected for the 2026 World Cup was denied entry to the United States after an 11-hour immigration interview in Miami, forcing his removal from FIFA's list of match officials. Omar Abdulkadir Artan, who said he held valid travel documents and a visa, was sent back via Istanbul and arrived in Mogadishu on Wednesday. FIFA said he will be unable to train or officiate because all tournament officials must be based in Miami. A Trump administration official told Fox News that Customs and Border Protection found derogatory information, including alleged association with suspected members of terror organizations, making him ineligible under US immigration law. Artan had been set to become the first Somali referee at a World Cup finals.