The referee from Somalia, who was selected as the referee of the year of the African Football Federa..

The referee from Somalia, who was selected as the referee of the year of the African Football Federation (CAF) last year and was selected as the referee of the 2026 FIFA North-China World Cup, was denied entry to the United States and was excluded from the referee’s team.

Major foreign media, including the AP, reported on the 9th (Korea Standard Time) that “Omar Artan, who was scheduled to be the first World Cup referee in Somali history, was denied entry to the United States.” According to reports, Artan obtained a U.S. visa and even issued a diplomat’s passport at the Somali Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya, but he did not enter the U.S. at Miami International Airport in Florida on the 7th.

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said, “During the immigration process, the traveler underwent additional tests. This is a regular examination conducted by airport staff when they need to check information or determine whether they can enter the country, he said. “As a result of the examination, the traveler was denied entry due to background check-related issues.” CBP said, “The availability of entry is determined individually by national security and immigration information at the time of screening,” adding, “CBP employees have the power to interrogate travelers and conduct inspections in accordance with U.S. law to determine whether they can enter the country.”

The CBP did not clarify the reason for the Artan referee’s refusal to enter the country, but foreign media assumed that Somalia was one of the countries subject to a travel ban introduced by the Donald Trump administration as an immigration crackdown. He became an international referee for FIFA since 2018 and also served as a referee at the Africa Cup of Nations at the end of last year, losing his first World Cup referee opportunity. FIFA said in a spokesman interview, “FIFA cannot exert any influence on the U.S. decision. The U.S. has decided to exclude Artan from the World Cup judging panel, saying that entry approval is a unique U.S. authority.

Former Somali national team captain and senior adviser to Somalia’s Ministry of Youth and Sports, Ise Aden Abshir, criticized in an AFP interview, saying, “The denial of entry to the U.S. against Artan not only hurts individuals but also undermines the soccer community’s commitment to fairness, meritocracy, and fair play spirit.”