Somalian referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan was denied entry into the United States and consequently ruled out of officiating at the FIFA World Cup after U.S. authorities cited alleged links to suspected members of terrorist organisations.

Artan, Africa’s Referee of the Year in 2025 and the first Somali official selected for a FIFA World Cup, was turned back by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) after arriving at Miami International Airport from Istanbul on Saturday.

According to a U.S. administration official, further screening by border authorities uncovered information that raised national security concerns.

“Upon further inspection by CBP, derogatory information, including association with suspected members of terror organisations, was discovered,” the official said.

The official added that the findings rendered Artan inadmissible under the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), making him ineligible to enter the country despite reportedly holding a valid visa.

“President Trump’s administration will not allow any security threat to enter our country, full stop,” the official stated.

The decision immediately ended Artan’s hopes of participating in the World Cup, which begins this week across the United States, Mexico and Canada.

A FIFA spokesperson confirmed that the Somali referee would neither take part in pre-tournament preparations nor officiate at any matches during the competition.

“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,” the spokesperson said.

The denial has sparked disappointment in Somalia, where Artan’s appointment was widely celebrated as a landmark achievement for the country’s football community.

Somalia’s Ministry of Youth and Sports said it had unsuccessfully engaged both FIFA and U.S. authorities in an effort to secure the referee’s entry into the country.

“His international achievements are a source of honour and pride for the Somali people,” the ministry said in a statement.

The Somali Football Federation (SFF) also expressed sadness over the development, describing Artan’s World Cup appointment as the culmination of years of dedication, professionalism and integrity.

The federation said it had not received an official explanation for the decision and was continuing discussions with FIFA and relevant authorities to better understand the circumstances surrounding the case.

A senior Somali government official revealed that diplomatic efforts were still underway to seek a resolution, although no indication has been given that U.S. authorities are prepared to reverse their decision.

Speaking to Reuters at Istanbul Airport before returning to Somalia, Artan remained upbeat despite the setback.

“I feel very good now,” he said. “And I wanted to thank FIFA for supporting me all the way, and the Somali people also. So I am very grateful for FIFA and CAF also.”

The incident comes amid heightened scrutiny of U.S. immigration policies ahead of the World Cup. Somalia is among the countries affected by travel restrictions introduced by the Trump administration, and concerns have been raised about the potential impact of such policies on players, officials and fans travelling to the tournament.

Defending the government’s position, CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott said entry decisions are based on legal and security considerations rather than professional status.

“I don’t really care what you do for a living. The law is still the law,” Scott said at a Washington event.

“If you don’t meet the qualifications to come into the country, we’re not letting you in just because we want you to referee a game.”

For Artan, the decision means a historic World Cup debut has been put on hold, while questions continue to swirl over the circumstances that led U.S. authorities to classify one of Africa’s leading referees as a security risk.

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