Somali World Cup Official Barred from U.S. Entry Ahead of Training Camp
Omar Artan, a Somali designated as a top official for the 2026 World Cup, was denied entry into the United States after arriving in Miami for the tournament’s official training hub. He was interrogated for about 11 hours, detained, and then flown to Istanbul, with U.S. authorities citing vetting concerns. FIFA said it defers to host-country immigration processes, leaving Artan unable to participate in the World Cup as planned.
