Gianni Infantino comments on Somali referee denied entry to USA

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has distanced the governing body from the situation involving Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, who was denied entry to the United States. Speaking at a press conference in Mexico ahead of the World Cup, Infantino described the situation as "unfortunate" but stated that FIFA does not "control everything" regarding border security decisions.

Artan, who was named the best referee by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in 2025, was scheduled to officiate at the tournament. However, he was turned away by border police at Miami International Airport on Saturday following an eleven-hour interrogation.

The Trump administration told The Athletic that the decision was based on links between the referee and "alleged members of terrorist organizations," though it did not specify the nature of these links or name the organization involved.