Miami, United States – Web Desk: A FIFA-appointed referee for the upcoming World Cup was denied entry into the United States and sent back after arriving at Miami International Airport, according to reports.
Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan was reportedly stopped by US immigration authorities upon arrival and was not permitted to enter the country. He was later placed on a return flight to Türkiye.
Media reports say Artan had been selected by FIFA as one of the officials for the 2025–2026 football calendar and was previously recognized as the Best African Referee of the Year. The Somali embassy had also issued him a diplomatic passport.
The incident comes ahead of the FIFA World Cup, which is scheduled to begin on June 12. The tournament will be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
This edition of the World Cup will feature 48 teams for the first time, divided into 12 groups of four teams each, with a total of 104 matches scheduled across the tournament.
