Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan returned to a hero’s welcome in Mogadishu after being denied entry into the United States ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as the Trump administration publicly defended its decision by alleging that the match official posed a security risk.
Hundreds of supporters gathered at Adan Adde International Airport to welcome Artan home after his deportation from the United States. Fans waved Somali flags, chanted his name, and celebrated the referee as a national hero despite his exclusion from football’s biggest tournament.
The emotional reception came as American officials provided new details about why they blocked the highly regarded referee from entering the country.
According to a Trump administration official who spoke to CNN, US authorities discovered what they described as “derogatory information” during a secondary inspection conducted by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers after Artan arrived at Miami International Airport from Istanbul.
“This individual was seeking admission to the United States. Upon further inspection by Customs and Border Protection, derogatory information, including association with suspected members of terror organizations, was discovered, making the traveler ineligible for admission to the United States under the Immigration and Nationality Act,” the official said.
The statement added that President Donald Trump’s administration would not allow any security threat to enter the country.
While officials did not publicly identify the organization involved, reports indicated the concerns may have been linked to alleged associations with members of Al-Shabaab, the Somalia-based militant group affiliated with Al-Qaeda.
The allegations have shocked many, particularly because Artan is one of Africa’s most respected football referees and was selected to become the first Somali official ever appointed to officiate at a FIFA World Cup.
The White House’s World Cup task force chief also defended the decision while speaking about the controversy.
“There’s been one referee who has not been admitted,” the official said. “While I can’t go into the details, what I can tell you high level is it was for very good reason.”
The official added that he had personally discussed the matter with the Secretary of Homeland Security and senior CBP leadership before concluding that denying Artan entry was justified.
The case has generated intense debate because Artan had already passed the visa application process before travelling to the United States.
The referee reportedly obtained a three-month multiple-entry visa through the US Embassy in Nairobi after undergoing standard screening procedures. Critics have questioned how concerns significant enough to warrant deportation were not identified during the visa vetting process.
The controversy has fueled speculation about whether new information emerged after the visa was issued or whether border officials reached a different conclusion from embassy personnel who initially approved his application.
Artan himself has denied any wrongdoing.
Speaking after returning to Somalia, the referee said he spent approximately 11 hours being questioned by American authorities before being deported.
According to interviews he gave after his return, investigators repeatedly questioned him about Al-Shabaab during the lengthy interrogation.
Artan maintained that he had followed all legal procedures and had not violated any laws.
The referee’s removal from the tournament marked a devastating blow to his career and to Somali football. FIFA had selected him to officiate matches at the 2026 World Cup, a historic achievement for a country that has rarely been represented at football’s highest levels.
His appointment came after years of success on the international stage. In 2025, the Confederation of African Football named Artan Africa’s Best Male Referee, recognizing his performances in continental competitions and elevating him among the elite officials on the continent.
However, FIFA ultimately removed him from the tournament roster after US authorities denied him entry. Football’s governing body has acknowledged that immigration decisions remain under the control of host nations and cannot be overridden by FIFA.
Back home in Somalia, government officials strongly backed Artan and rejected suggestions that he posed a security threat. Senior leaders who welcomed him at Mogadishu airport praised his contribution to Somali sports and described him as a source of national pride.
Despite the controversy, Artan remained focused on the future during his homecoming celebration.
Addressing the crowd that gathered to receive him, he vowed not to allow the setback to define his career.
“I will referee the next World Cup,” he told supporters.
