US President Donald Trump’s tough immigration policy has sparked a heated debate in sports ahead of the FIFA World Cup, which starts on June 11 and is jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. Omar Abdulkadir Artan, a Somali national and one of Africa’s best referees, has been denied entry to the country from Miami airport despite having a valid visa and diplomatic passport and being turned away due to being on the visa-free list under the country’s immigration policy.
Artan was on FIFA’s list of 52 referees for the upcoming World Cup. Artan, who won the African Referee of the Year award in 2025, was the first Somali referee to officiate a World Cup match. He also serves as one of the key advisors to the Somali Ministry of Youth and Sports. He was forced to return to Istanbul after being denied entry to the United States, ending his World Cup refereeing journey.
The incident has started a commotion in the football world. Former Somalia football captain Chise Aden has condemned Abshi, saying Omar Artan is the most respected referee in Africa and the entire football world should stand by him. He added that being barred from entering the United States and being denied the opportunity to officiate at World Cup matches not only harms him personally, but also undermines football’s commitment to fairness, meritocracy and fair play.
Not only Artan, many other players and officials have been victims of this US policy. Iraqi striker Ayman Hussain has faced lengthy questioning since arriving in the United States. Similarly, Talal Shah, Iraq’s World Cup cameraman, was interrogated for more than 10 hours. Earlier, the US administration had also delayed issuing visas to Iranian football players and coaches. Journalists and sports fans from Iran and several African countries are subject to strict conditions of entry into the United States, and many are issued single-entry visas, barring them from re-entering the United States if they travel to Canada or Mexico.
The World Cup will be held for the first time with the participation of 48 countries. FIFA plans to hold separate opening ceremonies in the host United States, Canada and Mexico. The tournament opens with a match between Mexico and South Africa at the famous Azteca Stadium on June 11, but the controversy over US immigration policy has created an unexpected situation for FIFA and the host nations.