Somali referee Omar Artan barred from US, dropped from World Cup 2026

Omar Abdulkadir Artan turned away by immigration officials.

The decision to bar his entry comes amid widespread concern that Trump administration policies will hamper World Cup preparation as the U.S. prepares to host matches in 11 cities.

In December, Somalia was among 12 nations designated as 'high risk' by the US government, which imposed travel restrictions and entry limitations on individuals from those countries.

He was barred from entry into the US despite holding both a valid visa and diplomatic passport issued by the Somalian government.