Somali referee Omar Artan has been denied entry to the United States ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
Artan, named CAF referee of the year in 2025 and selected among Fifa’s 52 officials, was stopped at Miami International Airport and repatriated to Turkey.
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No reason has been given by US authorities, though Somalia remains on a travel ban list introduced under President Donald Trump.
Artan, a Fifa referee since 2018, was set to make history as the first Somali to officiate at the finals.
