{"id":679,"date":"2026-06-10T13:11:42","date_gmt":"2026-06-10T13:11:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/topmovingpross.com\/?p=679"},"modified":"2026-06-10T13:11:42","modified_gmt":"2026-06-10T13:11:42","slug":"what-to-know-about-the-world-cup-referee-from-somalia-who-was-denied-entry-to-the-us","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/topmovingpross.com\/?p=679","title":{"rendered":"What to know about the World Cup referee from Somalia who was denied entry to the US"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) \u2014 A Somali<\/span> soccer referee who was due to become the first from his country to officiate the World Cup<\/span> but was denied entry to the United States<\/span> was named Africa\u2019s best referee and is considered a hero to many in his country<\/span>.<\/p>\n

Read more Stabbing suspect appears in court after anti-immigrant protests in Northern Ireland<\/a><\/p>\n

Omar Artan, 34, was due to be the first referee from Somalia to officiate a World Cup after making FIFA\u2019s final list for the tournament, bringing years of experience and hard work to soccer\u2019s biggest stage. Artan\u2019s anticipated feat brought hope to many in the country of about 19 million people, which is on the path of recovery after decades of instability and civil war.<\/p>\n

The refusal to allow entry by Artan, who was scheduled to join other World Cup referees at their training base in Miami, was an unprecedented move in modern soccer history by a host country. The U.S. is co-hosting the tournament with Mexico and Canada.<\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n

After being dropped from FIFA\u2019s list of World Cup referees, Artan returned to a hero\u2019s welcome<\/span> in Somalia\u2019s capital Mogadishu on Wednesday and urged young people to remain proud of their country.<\/p>\n

Here is what to know about Artan:<\/p>\n

Enlisted as a FIFA referee<\/h2>\n

Artan was enlisted as a FIFA referee in 2018. He later became the first Somali to officiate at the African Cup of Nations when he officiated the group fixture between Tunisia and Namibia in January 2024.<\/p>\n

In May, he was the referee for the decisive leg of the African Champions League final in Morocco, the continent\u2019s biggest club soccer game.<\/p>\n

He is one of Africa\u2019s top referees and was named the continent\u2019s best male referee in 2025.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n<\/p>\n
\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

How Artan was chosen to officiate the World Cup<\/h2>\n

FIFA selects World Cup referees through a lengthy evaluation process overseen by the organization\u2019s refereeing officials. The candidates are typically monitored for several years in international, continental and top domestic competitions.<\/p>\n

Referees first must be proposed by their national soccer associations to get on the FIFA international list and begin officiating continental tournaments such as the African Cup of Nations. They are then picked for FIFA-organized games like World Cup qualifying matches, a youth World Cup or Olympics. Artan worked at the men\u2019s Under-20 World Cup last year in Chile.<\/p>\n

Those judged to be the best referees were invited to World Cup preparation camps in 2025 and earlier this year. The final list of referees was announced in April.<\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n

Why he was denied entry to the US<\/h2>\n

U.S. Customs and Border Protection<\/span> said Artan \u201cwas determined to be inadmissible due to vetting concerns and was denied entry.\u201d<\/p>\n

A U.S. official later said the referee was refused admission due to \u201cassociation with suspected members of terror organizations.\u201d The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a matter covered by visa privacy laws.<\/p>\n

Read more Somali World Cup referee denied entry to US arrives home to hero\u2019s welcome<\/a><\/p>\n

Somalia is one of nearly 40 countries whose citizens are banned from entry under the Trump administration\u2019s crackdown on immigration<\/span> and Somali officials say they believe Artan might have been denied due to those restrictions.<\/p>\n

U.S. President Donald Trump has made statements targeting Somali immigrants in the U.S.<\/span> and asked them to leave<\/span>.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n<\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\n
\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/div>\n
\nSign up for Morning Wire:<\/strong>
\n Our flagship newsletter breaks down the biggest headlines of the day.\n <\/div>\n
\n<\/p>\n
\n
\n