Omar Artan, a prominent Somali referee, was poised to make history as the first official from Somalia to referee at a World Cup but was denied entry to the United States after arriving in Miami. U.S. Customs and Border Protection cited 'vetting concerns' without providing further details. Artan, who received a visa from the Somalia Embassy in Kenya prior to his travel, was scheduled to join other referees for training. FIFA confirmed that it was not involved in the immigration process and stated that Artan would not be able to officiate or train during the tournament. The Somalia Youth and Sports Ministry expressed confusion over the denial and is pursuing diplomatic channels to resolve the matter. Artan, recognized as one of Africa's top referees, previously officiated significant matches, including the African Champions League final. Despite the setback, Artan remains optimistic about his future in refereeing, expressing gratitude for the support he has received.