Photo: ESPN Africa/Facebook
Africa’s top football referee has been denied entry into the United States despite being cleared to officiate at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Somali official Omar Abdulkadir Artan, who was named CAF Referee of the Year for 2025, was turned back after landing at Miami International Airport and placed on a return flight to Istanbul, Turkey.
Artan travelled from Kenya using a diplomatic passport arranged through the Somali Embassy in Nairobi to help address visa-related challenges linked to US travel restrictions.
The 34-year-old referee had been selected to officiate at the World Cup, and FIFA confirmed last week that his visa issues had been resolved and that he would be available for the tournament.
No official reason has been given for the decision to deny him entry.
The incident has drawn attention because Somalia is among the countries affected by travel restrictions introduced by US President Donald Trump, who has previously described Somalia as “the worst country in the world” and made controversial remarks about Somali immigrants in America.
