Story perspectives

US Bars Somali World Cup Referee, Removes Him

6/10/2026

Summary

Artan Denied Entry

Officials denied Somali referee Omar Artan at Miami Airport on June 6, 2026, removing him from the World Cup roster.
Customs and Border Protection declared him inadmissible due to concerns after inspection and sent him back to Turkey.
FIFA confirmed Artan was Somalia’s only World Cup referee and will not train or officiate.
Somalia’s Youth and Sports Ministry said its Washington embassy is seeking a solution, citing travel restrictions on Somali officials.

Summary

Iran Squad Relocates

Iraq’s striker Aymen Hussein was detained for seven hours while his photographer was denied entry.
Iran’s squad moved its training camp to Mexico after U.S. officials refused visas for staff.
Human-rights groups say the Trump-era travel ban covering 39 nations is being applied to sports officials.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations denounced the ban as an affront to its values, sparking debate over World Cup if U.S. officials are barred.

History

Historical Context

After the United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 1137 on 12 November 1997, it required all members to bar Iraqi officials from travel. The United States applied the Immigration and Nationality Act that year, denying 1,200 Iraqi and Iranian visas and cancelling a friendly match. The episode echoes the broader 1990-2003 sanctions regime that repeatedly restricted sports teams’ movement.

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Artan Denied Entry

Officials denied Somali referee Omar Artan at Miami Airport on June 6, 2026, removing him from the World Cup roster.
Customs and Border Protection declared him inadmissible due to concerns after inspection and sent him back to Turkey.
FIFA confirmed Artan was Somalia’s only World Cup referee and will not train or officiate.
Somalia’s Youth and Sports Ministry said its Washington embassy is seeking a solution, citing travel restrictions on Somali officials.

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