Somali referee Omar Artan was denied entry to the United States after officials claimed he had “association with suspected members of terror organisations”.
The 34-year-old, named Africa’s referee of the year in 2025, had been set to become the first Somali official to referee at a World Cup finals. However, he was stopped at Miami International Airport on Monday despite holding a diplomatic passport and a single-entry US visa.
Artan returned to Somalia on Wednesday, where he was welcomed by government officials, representatives of the Somali Football Federation, fellow referees and local residents at Aden Adde International Airport in Mogadishu.
A Trump administration source said US Customs and Border Protection discovered “derogatory information” during further checks, making Artan ineligible to enter the country under the Immigration and Nationality Act.
“President Trump’s administration will not allow any security threat to enter our country — full stop,” the source said.
Somalia is among 12 countries included in a travel ban introduced by President Donald Trump in June 2025.
Artan told the New York Times that US border officials questioned him about alleged links to Somali militant group Al Shabab. He said he told them he knew nothing about the group.
BBC Sport has approached Artan for comment.
After arriving in Mogadishu, Artan met Somalia president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud at the Presidential Palace. He was also expected to attend a public event at Mogadishu Stadium and watch a match between Heegan and Dekadaha.
Speaking briefly to the media at the airport, Artan thanked Somali officials and supporters, while insisting his ambition to referee at a World Cup remains alive.
“I want to thank my country and people for their support,” Artan said in comments translated by the BBC. “Fifa supported me well and were in touch with me until I reached Mogadishu.
“I promise you that I’ll be officiating in the next World Cup. Somalia, everywhere, I’m letting you know.”
Artan, who was named the Confederation of African Football men’s referee of the year in 2025, was one of 52 referees selected for the World Cup.
His World Cup dream was halted as he travelled to the officials’ base in Florida, where all on-pitch referees are required to stay for training, preparation and security. Artan told the New York Times he underwent an 11-hour immigration interview, was detained for several hours and was later placed on a flight to Istanbul, Turkey.
Andrew Giuliani, who leads the White House Task Force on the World Cup, defended the decision in an interview with BBC World Service.
“While I can’t go into the derogatory information, I can tell you it was the right decision by Customs and Border Protection and I support that decision,” Giuliani said.
Because all on-pitch officials are based in Florida, Artan was unable to remain outside the United States and only referee matches in Canada or Mexico.
Trump’s travel ban blocks entry under any visa category for citizens of 12 countries, including Somalia. His comments about Somalia also drew widespread attention before the World Cup draw in December 2025, when he described the country as lacking structure and said Somali immigrants should “go back to where they came from”.
Despite his removal from the United States, Artan urged young Somalis not to lose faith in their country.
“Let’s all defend Somalia’s honour,” he said. “We all belong to Somalia whether it’s bad or good. That flag is ours and so is the passport — let’s defend it.
“The youth shouldn’t be demoralised about their country. Despite this happening to me, I’ll still stand for my nation. I want to continue my journey from here and urge the youth to do the same.”
