MIAMI — Award-winning Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, who was set to make history as the first Somali official to referee at a FIFA World Cup, has been dropped from the tournament’s official list of match officials after being denied entry into the United States.

The Incident at Miami International Airport

Artan, the 2025 Confederation of African Football (CAF) Men's Referee of the Year, was stopped by U.S. immigration authorities upon his arrival at Miami International Airport on Monday, June 8. Despite traveling with valid travel documents and a specialized tournament visa, Artan was subjected to an 11-hour interview process by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) before being detained and ultimately repatriated to Turkey.

A spokesperson for U.S. Customs and Border Protection stated that Artan was determined to be inadmissible due to "vetting concerns," though no further specific details were provided. Somalia is among the nations currently subject to travel restrictions under the U.S. administration's policies.

FIFA’s Stance and Tournament Impact

Following the decision by U.S. authorities, FIFA confirmed that Artan has been removed from the list of 52 match officials for the 2026 World Cup. Because FIFA’s refereeing program mandates that all officials be based at a central training hub in Miami for the duration of the tournament, it was not possible for Artan to remain in the competition while residing outside the U.S.

In a statement regarding the situation, FIFA clarified:

"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. In line with previous FIFA events, a host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and who is admitted into their country."

Reaction and "World Cup of Chaos"

The denial of entry has sparked widespread criticism, contributing to a sense of pre-tournament frustration that many observers are now calling the "World Cup of chaos."

Former England striker and pundit Ian Wright expressed his frustration in a widely shared social media video, stating:

"Every few hours, it's another story about fans denied, players denied, officials denied, journalists denied, now refs. I'm laughing but it's not funny... Is this how the hosts behave for the greatest game, the greatest tournament in the world?"

While Andrew Giuliani, leader of the White House Task Force on the World Cup, publicly supported the decision by border officials, others have pointed to the incident as a major blow to the tournament's spirit. For his part, Artan expressed deep disappointment but maintained a professional outlook, thanking FIFA and CAF for their support while looking toward future career challenges.