An unprecedented scandal has emerged just before the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Reports from Polymarlet Sports indicate that FIFA referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan from Somalia has been denied entry into the United States, following confirmation from the White House.
The US administration has stated that the decision taken by Customs and Border Protection was based on information linking Artan to individuals suspected of being involved with terrorist organizations. This measure has raised significant concerns given that the 34-year-old referee was poised to make history as the first Somali official to officiate at a World Cup.
Artan, recognized as Africa’s best referee of 2025, arrived at Miami International Airport from Istanbul with a valid visa. However, after undergoing an 11-hour interrogation concerning Somali politics and Al-Shabaab militants, he was declared “inadmissible” on national security grounds and deported.