Somali referee denied entry to US gets hero’s welcome at home
- Posted on June 10, 2026
- By CNN
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- 1 min read
Somali referee denied entry to US gets hero’s welcome at home
The Trump administration is defending its decision to bar Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan from entering the US, just days before the FIFA World Cup, over alleged links to a terrorist group. A FIFA spokesperson said in a statement that the World Cup organizer “is not involved in host country immigration processes.” Artan, who was named Africa’s top male referee in 2025, would have been the first Somali to referee at the tournament. CNN’s Larry Madowo reports.
