{"id":2612956,"date":"2026-06-10T12:37:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-10T16:37:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/us-blocks-somali-world-cup-referee-from-entering-the-country-and-theres-nothing-fifa-can-do-about-it\/"},"modified":"2026-06-10T12:41:23","modified_gmt":"2026-06-10T16:41:23","slug":"us-blocks-somali-world-cup-referee-from-entering-the-country-and-theres-nothing-fifa-can-do-about-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/us-blocks-somali-world-cup-referee-from-entering-the-country-and-theres-nothing-fifa-can-do-about-it\/","title":{"rendered":"US Blocks Somali World Cup Referee from Entering the Country, and There&#8217;s Nothing FIFA Can Do About It"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">36<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fus-blocks-somali-world-cup-referee-from-entering-the-country-and-theres-nothing-fifa-can-do-about-it%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2612956&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>In a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/secy-yellen-treasury-may-take-action-following-gamestop-stock-saga\/\" title=\"Secy. Yellen: Treasury may take action following GameStop stock saga\">dispute involving<\/a> U.S. immigration screening tied to teh world Cup, U.S. Customs and Border Protection says a Somali national who came to the united States to referee World Cup matches-identified by FIFA as Omar Artan-was denied entry after additional inspection. CBP stated the decision was based on \u201cvetting concerns\u201d and that admissibility determinations are made case by case using law enforcement, national security, and immigration details.<\/p>\n<p>CBP also said other World Cup participants,including athletes and coaches,must still go through inspection. FIFA said it is indeed not involved in host-country immigration decisions and that the host government ultimately decides who receives visas and is admitted.<\/p>\n<p>The article also notes prior issues involving Iraqi World Cup team personnel: one Iraqi team member was detained at Chicago O\u2019Hare but later allowed in, while a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/fbi-investigating-chinas-spy-balloon-most-of-which-remains-underwater\/\" title=\"FBI Investigating China\u2019s Spy Balloon - Most of Which Remains Underwater\">team photographer<\/a> was sent back after being judged inadmissible due to vetting concerns.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><br \/>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\"><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>America\u2019s immigration rules are not bending for the World Cup Tournament.<\/p>\n<p>U.S. Customs and Border Protection said Monday that a Somali national seeking to referee World Cup matches was denied entry to the U.S., according to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/applewebdata:\/\/DF0C7079-CBF7-4488-BF20-44ED92746893\/A%20team%20photographer,%20Talal%20Salah,%20was%20also%20detained%20and%20%22was%20determined%20to%20be%20inadmissible%20and%20was%20denied%20entry%20due%20to%20vetting%20concerns,%22%20according%20to%20a%20CBP%20spokesperson.%20%20Customs%20and%20Border%20Patrol%20did%20not%20elaborate%20on%20the%20reasons%20the%20photographer%20was%20sent%20back%20to%20Iraq.%20%20%22Admissibility%20determinations%20are%20made%20on%20a%20case-by-case%20basis%20using%20law%20enforcement,%20national%20security,%20and%20immigration%20information%20available%20at%20the%20time%20of%20inspection,%22%20a%20CBP%20spokesperson%20said.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ESPN<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>FIFA later identified the referee as Omar Artan, who arrived in Miami Saturday but was not allowed to enter the U.S..<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDuring processing, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/world-cup-referee-denied-entry-to-the-us-due-to-ties-to-members-of-terror-organizations\/\" title=\"... ... ... to the US due to ties to \u2018members of terror organizations\u2019\">traveler underwent additional inspection<\/a>, a routine part of CBP\u2019s inspection process when officers need to verify information or determine admissibility,\u201d CBP said in its statement on the controversy.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFollowing inspection, the traveler, a referee for the FIFA World Cup, was determined to be inadmissible due to vetting concerns and was denied entry.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The CBP further said World Cup athletes, coaches, and others connected with the event must still pass inspection.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAdmissibility determinations are made on a case-by-case basis using law enforcement, national security, and immigration information available at the time of inspection,\u201d the CBP said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCBP officers have the authority to question travelers, conduct inspections, and determine admissibility consistent with U.S. law.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>As noted by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/2026\/06\/08\/world-cup-referee-somalia-00953959\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Politico<\/a>, Somalia is among the nations whose citizens are largely banned from entering the U.S.<\/p>\n<p>FIFA said it had nothing to do with the case, according to ESPN.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFIFA is not involved in host country immigration processes, including visa adjudications, and has been informed by authorities that Mr. Artan\u2019s status will not be changed at present,\u201d soccer\u2019s organizing body said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn line with previous FIFA events, a host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and who is admitted into their country.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Andrew Giuliani, the executive director for the White House Task Force on the World Cup, said that \u201cif you\u2019re inside the country legally, then you have nothing to worry about.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe want people to be able to come here and enjoy this World Cup while also making sure that we can keep the country safe,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>On Friday, Iraqi team member Aymen Hussein and team photographer Talal Salah were held at Chicago O\u2019Hare International Airport after their arrival. After seven hours, Hussein was allowed in the country, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/chicago\/news\/iraq-world-cup-aymen-hussein-detained-ohare-photographer-talal-salah-denied-entry\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">CBS<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Salah was sent back home,<\/p>\n<p>Salah \u201cwas determined to be inadmissible and was <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >denied entry due<\/a> to vetting concerns,\u201d a CBP representative said without elaborating.<\/p>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #171717; display: flex;font-size: 16px;font-weight: 600;line-height: 1.5;margin: 24px 0;padding: 18px 20px 18px 30px;text-align: left;\">\n<div style=\"align-self: stretch;border-left: 3px solid #171717;flex-shrink: 0;padding-left: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<p><a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/\">Choose The Western Journal as your preferred source on Google and never miss reporting that defends truth, protects freedom, and advances Western civilization<\/a><\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/court-of-appeals-in-swing-states-drop-major-ruling-hurting-kamala-harris-chances-against-trump\/\" title=\"Court of Appeals in Swing States Drop Major Ruling, Hurting Kamala Harris&#039; Chances Against Trump\">highly engaged readers<\/a>, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey == typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts = { \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs = [ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i = 0; i < inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! 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