Fans aren’t the only ones facing hurdles in getting permits to support their football teams playing in the North American nation. Somalian referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan was denied entry last week and won’t be able to officiate at the World Cup.
“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,” a spokesperson for the federation said. “In line with previous FIFA events, a host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and who is admitted into their country.”
Artan, who was named the Confederation of African Football’s Best Male Referee for 2025 and was slated to make his World Cup debut, had a valid visa, according to media reports. The US Customs and Border Protection said in a statement that an unnamed Somali national arrived at Miami International Airport from Istanbul on Saturday and was deemed inadmissible due to vetting concerns, adding that the referee underwent routine additional inspection before being denied entry.
“Admissibility determinations are made on a case-by-case basis using law enforcement, national security, and immigration information available at the time of inspection,” the CBP said.
According to the BBC, the Somali Football Federation has contacted FIFA seeking urgent clarification, while Artan is focusing on the next challenges of his refereeing career despite the setback. “I would like to thank FIFA and CAF for all their support and I promise to keep my refereeing levels up as I concentrate on the future,” he told Reuters news agency. “I want to thank the football family for their messages and wish my colleagues all the best success during the World Cup and I look forward to joining them again in future competitions.”
The Somali Olympic Committee released a statement through their social media platform, underscoring Artan’s talent and hard work while urging global sporting bodies to act and “ensure the spirit of fair play and international cooperation, which are the foundations of the Olympic Movement, are upheld.”
“Our officials deserve to represent our flag without discrimination and administrative barriers. We remain committed to ensuring Omar can fulfil his duty and continue making Somalia proud. Sports should have no borders,” the governing body wrote.
The current administration, led by President Donald Trump, has moved to block dozens of countries from entering the US, ceasing the process of applying for an immigrant visa and tightening tourism permits, as immigration crackdowns across the nation move to detain foreign nationals. Along with Somalia, Iran is also on the list, and the Middle Eastern nation’s football team is also navigating a delicate diplomatic situation as war continues between the US and their nation.
Iran, slated to play their first match on 16 June against New Zealand at the Los Angeles Stadium, has had to move its World Cup base camp from the US to Tijuana, Mexico. The team had originally planned to be based in Tucson, Arizona. The US State Department told the BBC that the visas required for Iran to compete in the World Cup have been issued. Four other countries competing at the World Cup —Haiti, Iran, Senegal and Ivory Coast— are included in the list, and attendees from these nations will face greater restrictions and scrutiny to obtain a travel permit.