Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan has reportedly been denied entry into the United States despite being selected to officiate at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America.

The Somali Embassy in Nairobi said on Friday it had facilitated Artan’s travel on a diplomatic passport.

Artan is said to have been stopped by immigration officials upon arrival at Miami International Airport and was subsequently returned to Istanbul on Monday.

no official reason has been given for this decision. The actual circumstances surrounding this situation therefore remain unclear, fuelling much speculation across Africa.

The 34-year-old referee is currently one of the continent’s top officials, having shone in major matches at the Africa Cup of Nations and the CAF Champions League.

He was recently named Africa’s Best Referee for 2025 at the CAF Awards held in Rabat, Morocco, by the Confederation of African Football.

Somalia is among countries facing U.S. travel restrictions, with most Somali nationals barred from obtaining certain visa categories, with limited exemptions for diplomats and cases considered in the U.S. national interest.