U.S. Denies Entry to Somali World Cup Referee

The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed on Monday, June 8, 2026, that it denied entry to Somali referee Omar Artan, preventing his participation in the FIFA World Cup. Artan, who arrived in South Florida on Saturday, was deemed inadmissible due to "vetting concerns," according to a DHS spokesperson. This decision impacts Artan, listed as one of FIFA's 52 World Cup referees, who was set to be the first Somali to officiate a World Cup match.

The denial highlights ongoing concerns regarding U.S. travel restrictions and their effect on international events. Somalia is included on a U.S. travel ban list. The DHS stated that admissibility determinations are made on a case-by-case basis, utilizing law enforcement, national security, and immigration information, and that participation in the World Cup does not alter inspection and entry decisions by Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

This incident follows other travel-related issues for the World Cup, co-hosted by Mexico and Canada, including visa difficulties for Iran's national team staff. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) have criticized the U.S. travel policies, citing potential impacts on the tournament and immigrant communities.