World Cup 2026: Reason why Somalia referee was banned from entering United States to officiate matches revealed

Somalia referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan was banned from entering the United States ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and fresh questions have now emerged after an old social media post allegedly linked to him resurfaced online.

Artan, who had been selected by FIFA as one of the tournament’s match officials, was set to become the first Somali referee to officiate on the field at a FIFA World Cup. He was due to attend a mandatory pre-tournament seminar for referees in Miami before the competition gets underway.

However, his World Cup dream was cut short when US immigration authorities reportedly denied him entry upon arrival in the country.

The controversy has intensified following the circulation of a screenshot purportedly showing a social media post from an account bearing Artan’s name. In the post, the referee appeared to criticize US involvement in Somalia’s internal affairs after comments made by the US State Department regarding Somalia’s 2022 parliamentary elections.

The resurfaced post has sparked speculation that Artan’s past online activity may have played a role in the decision to refuse him entry into the United States.

Despite the growing debate, neither US authorities nor FIFA have suggested that the social media post influenced the outcome. No official reason linking the post to the immigration decision has been provided.

According to reports, Artan was subjected to several hours of questioning by immigration officials before being informed that he would not be allowed into the country. The Somali referee later disclosed that some of the questions focused on Somalia and security-related issues.

The United States has maintained that all visa and entry decisions are assessed individually and are based on immigration regulations, security checks and other vetting procedures.

FIFA has also clarified that it has no influence over immigration matters, which remain the responsibility of the host nation.

The decision has drawn disappointment across Somalia and the wider African football community. Artan is regarded as one of Africa’s leading referees, having officiated at the Africa Cup of Nations and numerous major CAF competitions.

His rise to prominence has been seen as a significant achievement for Somali football, particularly after being named CAF Referee of the Year.

In the aftermath of the setback, Artan has received strong backing from Somali leaders and football supporters. Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre recently praised the referee’s resilience and professionalism, encouraging him to remain focused on his international career.

While the exact reasons behind the US entry ban remain unclear, the incident has renewed discussion about immigration policies and their implications for major global sporting events.