Omar Artan, right, had been chosen by the soccer governing body to be one of 52 referees at the World Cup.KHALED DESOUKI/AFP/Getty Images
A top African referee who was scheduled to officiate at the World Cup has been denied entry to the United States, fuelling a growing worldwide furor over U.S. restrictions on fans, journalists and officials.
Omar Artan, a Somali who was named the men’s referee of the year by the Confederation of African Football last year, had been chosen by soccer governing body FIFA to be one of 52 referees at the World Cup.
When he landed at Miami International Airport on Saturday, travelling on a Somali diplomatic passport with FIFA documentation, he was pulled aside for additional inspection and then denied entry.
The referee was “determined to be inadmissible due to vetting concerns,” U.S. Customs and Border Protection said in a statement Monday.
Many Somalis are urging Ottawa to give Mr. Artan a visa so he can officiate at World Cup games in Canada. But FIFA says it will not permit this because referees are required to attend a training hub in Florida.
Mr. Artan “will be unable to train and officiate at the FIFA World Cup 2026 after he was denied entry into the United States,” the association said in a statement. “FIFA is not involved in host country immigration processes, including visa adjudications, and has been informed by authorities that Mr. Artan’s status will not be changed at present.”
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In the past, FIFA has taken a different stand, promising no barriers to entry for the 2026 World Cup.
“Everyone will be welcome in Canada, Mexico and the United States for the FIFA World Cup next year,” president Gianni Infantino told journalists last August when asked about immigration issues. “We are working exactly for that.”
Despite that promise, many countries have been hit with restrictions that have blocked their fans and officials from attending.
In a last-minute agreement, Iran’s soccer team has been allowed to enter the United States for its games, but more than a dozen of its coaches, trainers and other support staff have been barred, according to news reports this week.
Iran’s ticket allocation has also been revoked, making it much more difficult for Iranian fans to attend the team’s games, the country’s football federation said Tuesday.
Many fans from African countries have been denied U.S. visas after they purchased high-priced tickets. Congolese fans are seeking refunds after the Trump administration imposed a ban on visitors from the Democratic Republic of Congo amid the latest Ebola outbreak in that country.
Many other fans have been barred under U.S. travel bans on their countries or have been required to pay visa bonds of as much as US$15,000.
A number of journalists are facing similar problems. The International Sports Press Association sent a letter to FIFA on June 5 complaining that many African and Iranian journalists have been denied entry to the United States to cover the event.
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Ian Wright, a former star player for Arsenal and England’s national team, said in an Instagram video that the tournament was becoming a “World Cup of chaos” because of the restrictions.
“Every few hours it’s another story – another story about fans denied, players denied, officials denied, journalists denied, now refs,” he said.
“Is this how the hosts behave really for the greatest game, the greatest tournament in the world?”
The U.S. decision to refuse entry to Mr. Artan ignited an uproar in many countries Tuesday. “This is racism, plain and simple,” said Jeremy Corbyn, a former leader of the Labour Party in Britain, in an online post. “Shameful.”
A former Trump administration diplomat, Tibor Nagy, said the refusal was embarrassing for the United States. “If we accept hosting the World Cup, we need to welcome teams, officials, and fans from all nations,” he said on social media.
Many Somali politicians criticized the U.S. decision. Former prime minister Hassan Ali Khaire said he was “deeply disappointed” by the move. “Omar has earned his place through talent, hard work, professionalism and integrity,” he said on X.
Somali-Canadian physician Hodan Ali urged Ottawa to help Mr. Artan officiate at the World Cup. “Canada has an opportunity to demonstrate its commitment to fairness, inclusion, and the unifying spirit of sport,” she said in an online post.
British Columbia Premier David Eby suggested that Mr. Artan should referee World Cup matches in Vancouver, although FIFA seemed to have ruled out the possibility. “Mr. Artan would be welcomed and celebrated in British Columbia for what he’s overcome and where he is today,” Mr. Eby said in a social media post.
Mr. Artan, who is returning to Mogadishu, said his spirits remain high. “Despite the circumstances, I am in a positive mood and I am focused on the next challenges in my refereeing career,” he said in a statement.
Somalia has been subjected to some of the harshest travel restrictions under the Trump administration. President Donald Trump was widely criticized in December when he verbally attacked Somali immigrants as “garbage.”