Omar Abdulkadir Artan, a referee from Somalia, confirmed on June 6 that US border patrol officials denied him entry into the country. Artan, who was selected as one of 52 referees for the upcoming FIFA Men’s World Cup, expressed disappointment, stating, "I’m just simply a referee who’s trying to live his dream, the biggest dream of my life, to come to the World Cup."
Artan mentioned that he had the necessary documentation and visa, which was processed by the Somalia embassy in Kenya. US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) stated that he was denied entry due to "vetting concerns" but did not specify the nature of these concerns. Artan's immigration interview reportedly lasted 11 hours, after which he was held for several hours before being sent back to Istanbul.
This incident follows a broader trend of US visa denials affecting national team players and officials from various countries trying to attend the tournament. The CBP's actions have raised questions about the visa process for international athletes and officials.