Omar Artan, who was poised to make history as the first Somali referee at a FIFA World Cup, has been removed from the list of officials after being barred from entering the United States. The Confederation of African Football had named Artan its best male referee of 2025.

Artan was stopped at Miami International Airport and is currently in Turkey. U.S. immigration authorities did not explain the decision, though Somalia is among the countries listed in President Donald Trump’s travel ban. FIFA confirmed after consultations with U.S. authorities that Artan will not be allowed to train or officiate at the 2026 World Cup.

A FIFA statement said: “Referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan will not be able to train or officiate matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after being denied entry to the United States. FIFA is not a party to host country immigration procedures, including visa decisions, and has been informed that Mr. Artan’s status will not change at present.”

Somali officials expressed frustration, noting that Artan was traveling with valid documents, including a diplomatic passport issued to ease his travel. A senior adviser at Somalia’s Ministry of Youth and Sports told the BBC that his visa application had been rejected. Artan himself told Reuters he was handling the situation positively and focusing on future challenges, thanking FIFA and CAF for their support.

The Somali Football Federation has requested urgent clarification from FIFA. Andrew Giuliani, head of the White House World Cup task force, told BBC World Service that while he could not share negative details, he supported the decision by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Artan was among 52 referees selected by FIFA to officiate at the 2026 World Cup, hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States from June 11 to July 19. A FIFA referee since 2018, he has officiated at the Africa Cup of Nations and serves in Somalia’s national football league.