Moroccan Omar Artan deprived of entry to the United States, package for the 2026 World Cup

The young Somali referee Omar Artan, initially selected to officiate at the 2026 World Cup organized in the United States, was unfortunately prevented from entering American territory. Despite having a valid visa and a diplomatic passport specially issued to facilitate his travels, Artan was subjected to an immigration interrogation lasting an exceptional 11 hours upon his arrival at Miami International Airport. After this check, he was detained for several hours in a specialized center before being sent back to Istanbul, Turkey.

This unexpected decision and the absence of official explanations from the American authorities leave the mystery hanging. Somalia is among the countries subject to a list of travel restrictions introduced during the administration of former President Donald Trump, which could explain the refusal of entry. Omar Artan was to become the first Somali referee to officiate in a World Cup final phase, a dream shattered a few days before the start of the competition scheduled for June 11 to July 19.

FIFA has confirmed that the linesman will neither be able to train nor referee in this 2026 World Cup. The international federation has clarified that it has no role in the granting or refusal of visas and was informed of the refusal by the American authorities, with no hope of change in the short term.

Devastated, Omar Artan told the New York Times: “I am very, very disappointed. I'm just a referee trying to live my dream, the biggest dream of my life, to participate in the World Cup. »

A senior adviser to Somalia's Ministry of Youth and Sports confirmed to the BBC that the referee was traveling with valid documents. A Somali diplomat based in Nairobi stressed that his diplomatic passport was issued to facilitate his administrative adventures.

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Despite the dramatic outcome, Artan showed dignity: “I had the right papers and the right visa. I think there is a problem with my country. »

Andrew Giuliani, head of the World Cup Task Force at the White House, justified the decision by saying it was taken by American immigration authorities, without being able to divulge further.

The organization of the tournament requires that all referees and assistants reside in Miami due to training, preparations and security measures. This therefore excludes the possibility of Artan simply officiating matches in Vancouver or Mexico, as had been envisaged.

This affair adds to the numerous incidents which mar the launch of this highly anticipated World Cup. Another blow came with the withdrawal of fan ticket allocations to the Iranian federation. Former England international Ian Wright described this 2026 World Cup as a “World Cup of chaos”, criticizing the numerous refusals of entry, in particular from players, officials, journalists and supporters, and deploring this atmosphere far from the spirit of football.

At 32, Omar Artan received his FIFA referee license in 2018 and officiated notably during the Africa Cup of Nations. His misfortune is a blow for Somali football and for diversity in global refereeing.