Has FIFA lost control of its own World Cup?

Somali referee Omar Artan was denied entry to the United States for the 2026 World Cup. After an 11-hour interrogation at Miami airport, he was put on a return flight. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing BBC News.

Artan is considered Africa's top referee. In 2025, he officiated the African Champions League final and the third-place play-off at the U-20 World Cup in Chile. In March 2026, he was appointed to the World Cup but was refused entry to the US.

Piara Powar, executive director of anti-discrimination group Fare, said: "Fears of an ideological and discriminatory visa policy from the US government are being realised. The farce of a FIFA referee being refused entry is unprecedented."

Andrew Giuliani, who leads the White House Task Force on the World Cup, said: "While I can't go into the derogatory information, I can tell you it was the right decision by customs and border patrol and I support that decision."

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has ingratiated himself with US President Donald Trump over the past two years. Trump was controversially awarded the first-ever FIFA Peace Prize in December 2025.

This incident shows FIFA's lack of control outside stadiums. Criticism has also been levelled at high ticket prices, hotel and transport costs. Former Arsenal and England striker Ian Wright posted: "Every few hours it's another story about fans denied, players denied, officials denied, journalists denied, now refs."