Somali Referee Set to Officiate World Cup Match Denied U.S. Entry

Somali referee Omar Artan, who was scheduled to officiate a match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, was denied entry into the United States after arriving at Miami International Airport on Saturday, June 6. U.S. Customs and Border Protection deemed him 'inadmissible due to vetting concerns,' according to multiple reports. The incident occurred just days before the tournament was set to begin.