Somali World Cup ref barred from US for 'association with suspected members of terror organizations': official

A Somali World Cup referee, who was denied introduction into the U.S. days earlier the tourney kicked disconnected successful North America by Customs and Border Protection (CBP), was flagged for "derogatory" information, including "association with suspected members of panic organizations," a Trump medication authoritative told Fox News.

The emblem made Omar Artan inadmissible for introduction into the U.S.

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Referee Omar Artan arrives successful Mogadishu, Somalia, aft being denied introduction to the United States connected June 10, 2026. (Farah Abdi Warsameh/AP)

"This idiosyncratic was seeking admittance to the United States," a Trump medication authoritative said successful a statement. "Upon further inspection by CBP, derogatory information, including relation with suspected members of panic organizations, was discovered making the traveler ineligible for admittance to the United States nether the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).

"The traveler was refused admittance and fixed migration forms that supply the conception of instrumentality utilized to implicit an expedited removal nether 8235 of the INA. President Trump's medication volition not let immoderate information menace to participate our state - afloat stop."

Artan was denied introduction astatine Miami International Airport connected Saturday implicit "vetting concerns," the CBP said successful a statement. He was reportedly issued a visa to the U.S. past week, according to the Somalia Embassy successful Kenya that processed it. He was acceptable to conscionable with different referees for grooming astatine their basal successful Miami.

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Referee Omar Artan of Somalia is confronted by players aft calling a punishment footwear during the CAF Champions League last betwixt AS FAR Rabat and Mamelodi Sundowns successful Rabat, Morocco, connected May 24, 2026. (Mosa'ab Elshamy/AP)

He returned location to Somalia connected Wednesday and thanked supporters.

"I committedness you, God willing, that I volition be the adjacent one," helium said. "I privation the Somali nationalist to instrumentality comfortableness successful this and stay confident."

Somalia is 1 of astir 3 twelve countries taxable to question restrictions nether the Trump medication arsenic it has focused connected amerciable immigration. Artan was acceptable to beryllium the archetypal referee from Somalia to officiate successful the World Cup and is among the apical referees successful Africa.

"It is up to each of america to support the Somali name," Artan said. "Somalia belongs to us, whether it is successful a atrocious authorities oregon a bully state. That emblem belongs to us, and that passport belongs to us."

Referee Omar Artan is welcomed by supporters upon his accomplishment successful Mogadishu, Somalia, connected June 10, 2026, aft being denied introduction to the United States. (Farah Abdi Warsameh/Associated Press)

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The World Cup begins connected Thursday with the U.S., Mexico and Canada each hosting matches. The World Cup last takes spot connected July 18 astatine MetLife Stadium successful East Rutherford, New Jersey.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.