2026 W/Cup: Clinton Slams Decision To Deny Somali Referee Entry To US

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton criticized the United States after Somali referee Omar Artan was denied entry while en route to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection confirmed on Monday that Artan, who had been selected to officiate at the World Cup, was turned away when he arrived in Miami from Istanbul. FIFA later confirmed that Artan, the only Somali referee on the tournament’s final list, had been stopped at the border.

CBP said the decision was based on “vetting concerns.” Clinton shared the story on X and called the U.S. decision “backward” and “flippantly barring” officials who were coming to perform a job.

“As a World Cup host, the U.S. shouldn’t be flippantly barring officials from entering the country to do their jobs,” Clinton wrote on X (via Mirror). “It’s terribly backward.” She added, “It’s also counterproductive. Global sports competitions should improve international exchange and relations, not the reverse.”

Also Read: 2026 W/Cup: FIFA Reacts After US Denies Somali Referee Entry

Artan had been scheduled to meet with other World Cup referees for training in Miami but was sent home. Somalia is among the countries subject to new travel restrictions imposed by the Trump administration. The Somali embassy in Kenya said that Artan had been issued a visa to travel to the U.S. last week.

According to the New York Times, Artan was interviewed at Miami International Airport for 11 hours and questioned about his politics and reasons for traveling to the U.S. “I think that they have a problem with my country,” he told the outlet.

Artan said he had shown his FIFA documentation, proof of his officiating career, and the visa he had been granted, yet he was still denied entry. Somali officials are working to resolve the matter as quickly as possible.

“Despite the circumstances, I am in a positive mood and I am focused on the next challenges in my refereeing career,” Artan said in a statement on Monday. “I would like to thank FIFA and the African federation for all their support and I promise to keep my refereeing levels up as I concentrate on the future.”