The Trump administration has confirmed that Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan was denied entry to the United States on national security grounds, effectively ending his participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup before the tournament even kicks off.

Artan, who claimed the title of Africa's referee of the year in 2025, had been poised to make history as Somalia's first official at a World Cup. His journey came to an abrupt halt at Miami International Airport on Saturday, when US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) turned him away after he arrived on a flight from Istanbul.

The US government's position

Although CBP did not name Artan directly in its public statement, an administration official speaking on condition of anonymity told reporters that agents had uncovered what they described as