World Cup ref from Somalia who was denied entry to the US was about to make history for his country

World Cup ref from Somalia who was denied entry to the US was about to make history for his country 1 of 3 | Referee Omar Artan, center, signals a penalty during the CAF Champions League final soccer match between Rabat" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="54473" data-entity-type="organization">AS FAR Rabat and Mamelodi Sundowns, in Rabat, Morocco, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Mosa’ab Elshamy, File) 2 of 3 | Workers cover a Kansas City Chiefs sign to FIFA World Cup 2026 as work continues to transform Arrowhead Stadium to Kansas City Stadium ahead of the FIFA World Cup soccer tournament Monday, June 8, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) 3 of 3 | Somali soldiers patrol a street after supporters of opposition political figures and state security forces clashed in Mogadishu, Somalia, Thursday, June 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Farah Abdi Warsameh) 1 of 3 | Referee Omar Artan, center, signals a penalty during the CAF Champions League final soccer match between Rabat" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="54473" data-entity-type="organization">AS FAR Rabat and Mamelodi Sundowns, in Rabat, Morocco, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Mosa’ab Elshamy, File) 1 of 3 Referee Omar Artan, center, signals a penalty during the CAF Champions League final soccer match between Rabat" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="54473" data-entity-type="organization">AS FAR Rabat and Mamelodi Sundowns, in Rabat, Morocco, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Mosa’ab Elshamy, File) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share 2 of 3 | Workers cover a Kansas City Chiefs sign to FIFA World Cup 2026 as work continues to transform Arrowhead Stadium to Kansas City Stadium ahead of the FIFA World Cup soccer tournament Monday, June 8, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) 2 of 3 Workers cover a Kansas City Chiefs sign to FIFA World Cup 2026 as work continues to transform Arrowhead Stadium to Kansas City Stadium ahead of the FIFA World Cup soccer tournament Monday, June 8, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share 3 of 3 | Somali soldiers patrol a street after supporters of opposition political figures and state security forces clashed in Mogadishu, Somalia, Thursday, June 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Farah Abdi Warsameh) 3 of 3 Somali soldiers patrol a street after supporters of opposition political figures and state security forces clashed in Mogadishu, Somalia, Thursday, June 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Farah Abdi Warsameh) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Updated [hour]:[minute] [AMPM] [timezone], [monthFull] [day], [year] Mogadishu, Somalia (AP) — The World Cup referee from Somalia who was denied entry to the United States after arriving in Miami and subsequently cut from the tournament by FIFA was set to make history for his country.Omar Artan was going to be the first referee from Somalia to officiate at a World Cup after making FIFA’s final list for the tournament, which was announced two months ago. He is one of Africa’s top referees and was named the continent’s best male referee in 2025.He was denied entry at Miami International Airport on Saturday over “vetting concerns,” U.S. Customs and Border Protection said in a statement without giving details of those concerns. Artan was issued a visa to travel to the U.S. last week, according to the Somalia Embassy in Kenya that processed it.The move to deny a FIFA-appointed match official permission to enter a World Cup host country is highly unusual. Artan was due to meet up with other World Cup referees at their training base in Miami. The Somalia Youth and Sports Ministry said on Tuesday that it had not been told why Artan was denied entry and its embassy in the U.S. was making diplomatic efforts to resolve the problem and still allow Artan to referee at the World Cup, which opens on Thursday. 5 MIN READ 3 MIN READ 3 MIN READ Somalia was one of the countries subjected to new travel restrictions last year under the Trump administration’s crackdown on immigration. That raised concerns that fans, players and officials from those countries — most of which are African — might be denied entry for the World Cup due to the larger crackdown despite having valid visas. Workers cover a Kansas City Chiefs sign to transform Arrowhead Stadium to Kansas City Stadium ahead of the FIFA World Cup soccer tournament, Monday, June 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) Workers cover a Kansas City Chiefs sign to transform Arrowhead Stadium to Kansas City Stadium ahead of the FIFA World Cup soccer tournament, Monday, June 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share “When Customs and Border Protection said Omar Artan was found inadmissible because of vetting concerns without specifying the reason, it may be related to those broader screening measures rather than any specific allegation against him,” Isse Aden Abshir, a senior adviser at the Somalia sports ministry and a former national team captain, told The Associated Press. Artan subjected to ‘additional inspection’“During processing, the traveler underwent additional inspection, a routine part of CBP’s inspection process when officers need to verify information or determine admissibility,” CBP said in its statement on Monday. “Following inspection, the traveler, a referee for the FIFA World Cup, was determined to be inadmissible due to vetting concerns and was denied entry.”It didn’t name Artan and referred only to a Somali national who is a World Cup referee. Artan is the only Somali referee selected for the tournament.CBP said all travelers seeking entry into the U.S. — including World Cup players, coaches and staff — were subject to CBP inspection and vetting.“Admissibility determinations are made on a case-by-case basis using law enforcement, national security, and immigration information available at the time of inspection,” the CBP statement said. “CBP officers have the authority to question travelers, conduct inspections, and determine admissibility consistent with U.S. law.” FIFA drops ref from World CupFIFA said it was not involved in the immigration processes and was informed by U.S. authorities that Artan’s “status will not be changed at present.” It said Artan wouldn’t be able to train and officiate at the World Cup.“In line with previous FIFA events, a host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and who is admitted into their country,” FIFA said. FIFA president Gianni Infantino speaks as President Donald Trump listens on the South Lawn of the White House, Monday, Sept. 9, 2019. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) FIFA president Gianni Infantino speaks as President Donald Trump listens on the South Lawn of the White House, Monday, Sept. 9, 2019. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Still, FIFA and its president Gianni Infantino built close ties to U.S. President Donald Trump’s government as the U.S. prepared to co-host with Mexico and Canada, and had publicly stressed how that would help the World Cup run smoothly.Infantino did not immediately comment on the issue, while FIFA released a statement on behalf of Artan.“Despite the circumstances, I am in a positive mood and I am focused on the next challenges in my refereeing career,” Artan said in the statement. “I would like to thank FIFA and (the African soccer confederation) for all their support and I promise to keep my refereeing levels up as I concentrate on the future. “I want to thank the football family for their messages and wish my colleagues all the best success during the World Cup and I look forward to joining them again in future competitions.” Soldiers patrol a street in Mogadishu, Somalia, Thursday, June 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Farah Abdi Warsameh) Soldiers patrol a street in Mogadishu, Somalia, Thursday, June 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Farah Abdi Warsameh) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share He was to make history for SomaliaArtan was praised as one of Africa’s best referees and was the ref for the decisive leg of the African Champions League final last month — Africa’s biggest club soccer game.He spoke in a recent interview with the Al Jazeera TV network about how he was honored to be selected to be the first Somali to referee at the World Cup and how he faced challenges in his conflict-torn country in East Africa, including sometimes having to change his route to training because of explosions in the streets of the capital, Mogadishu.“You cannot give up as a referee,” Artan said in the interview. This (going to the World Cup) was my big, big target and I’m really excited.” ___Imray reported from Cape Town, South Africa. AP Sports Writer Graham Dunbar in Geneva contributed. ___AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup