Somali football refereeOmar Abdulkadir Artan
A Somali football referee celebrated as one of Africa’s finest match officials, Omar Abdulkadir Artan, has reportedly been denied entry into the United States despite travelling with a diplomatic passport ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
According to reports, Omar Abdulkadir Artan, 34, was stopped by immigration authorities upon his arrival at Miami International Airport and subsequently placed on a return flight to Istanbul, Turkey.
Artan had travelled from Kenya, where he is currently based, and transited through Turkey before landing in Miami. However, he was allegedly refused admission into the country, with no official reason publicly disclosed for the decision.
The development has sparked attention because FIFA had recently announced that issues surrounding the referee’s travel documentation had been resolved. The world football governing body had stated that the matter was “fully resolved” and that Artan would be available to officiate during the FIFA World Cup.
Sources familiar with the matter said the Somali referee was carrying a diplomatic passport issued with the support of the Somali Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya. The document was reportedly arranged to help address previous visa-related challenges encountered during his international assignments.
The incident comes amid heightened scrutiny of US immigration policies affecting nationals from several countries, including Somalia, which is listed among nations facing travel restrictions under measures introduced by US President Donald Trump.
Artan has earned widespread recognition within African football circles for his officiating performances. In November 2025, he was named Africa’s Best Referee at the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Awards, cementing his reputation as one of the continent’s leading officials.
As of the time of filing this report, neither US authorities nor FIFA had issued a fresh statement explaining the circumstances surrounding his reported denial of entry.
