‘I was held in detention cell’: Somali referee Omar Artan on World Cup omission

Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan has said that he was held in a detention cell after an 11-hour immigration interview before being denied entry into the United States despite holding a valid visa.

According to US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Artan arrived at Miami International Airport from Istanbul on Saturday but was deemed inadmissible following a vetting process.

In a statement released on Monday, the CBP said the Somali national was denied entry due to unspecified vetting concerns but did not provide further details.

Artan, an award-winning official, had been set to make history as the first referee from Somalia to officiate at a FIFA World Cup.

The incident has renewed attention on the United States' immigration policies ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026.

After speaking to the US authorities, FIFA said Artan will miss the tournament.

"I am very, very disappointed," Artan told the New York Times, external. "I'm just simply a referee who's trying to live his dream - the biggest dream of my life, to come to the World Cup.

"I had the right papers and everything. I had the right visa.

"I think that they have a problem with my country."

Concerns have been raised previously over travel restrictions imposed by the administration, including a ban affecting citizens of 12 countries, among them Somalia.

A FIFA statement on the decision said: "FIFA can confirm that match official Omar Abdulkadir Artan will be unable to train and officiate at the FIFA World Cup 2026 after he was denied entry into the United States.

"Fifa is not involved in host country immigration processes, including visa adjudications, and has been informed by authorities that Mr Artan's status will not be changed at present."

Omar said he was detained for several hours after the 11-hour interview.

“U.S. immigration officials questioned me for 11 hours,” said Omar Artan.

“Even after the 11-hour interview, I was not told why I was being denied entry. I was held in a detention cell for several hours after the questioning.

“U.S. officials kept me in a room overnight and continued asking questions. I was questioned about Somali politics and Al-Shabaab.”

Artan said he was sent back to Istanbul after the lengthy interrogation.

“U.S. authorities also checked online information related to my professional career. Despite showing my FIFA documents and career records, I was not granted entry,” Artan said.

“After the lengthy interrogation, I was detained and sent back to Istanbul.”

FIFA World Cup 2026 will run from June 11 to July 19 in the US, Canada and Mexico.