Somali referee Omar Artan denied entry to the United States for 2026 World Cup
via SeneNews1 min read
Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, selected by FIFA to officiate at the 2026 World Cup, was denied entry to the United States upon his arrival in Miami, according to several international media outlets. Reports indicate that the Somali official possessed a valid US visa. After arriving in the United States, he was forced to return to Istanbul, Turkey. The precise reasons for this decision have not been officially detailed by US authorities. Prior to his trip, Omar Artan had faced administrative difficulties in obtaining his visa. With the support of the Somali embassy in Nairobi, he had obtained a diplomatic passport, and FIFA had indicated a few days earlier that his situation was regularized. The 34-year-old referee was set to become the first Somali official in history to participate in a World Cup final phase. He is among the referees chosen by FIFA for the tournament co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Omar Artan is considered one of Africa's most prominent referees. He notably officiated the CAF Champions League final won by Pyramids FC against Mamelodi Sundowns and was named CAF's best African referee of 2025, according to several media sources.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by SeneNews.
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