Toronto mayor says Somali FIFA referee deemed inadmissible to U.S. would be welcome in the city

Mayor Olivia Chow speaks at an event on May 19, 2026.

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow says a Somali man who was set to referee at the World Cup but was deemed inadmissible for admission to the U.S. would be welcome to come referee in Toronto.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection said Monday that a Somali national who was planning to referee at the World Cup was deemed inadmissible.

“During processing, the traveller underwent additional inspection, a routine part of CBP’s inspection process when officers need to verify information or determine admissibility,” CBP said in a statement.

“Following inspection, the traveller, a referee for the FIFA World Cup, was determined to be inadmissible due to vetting concerns and was denied entry.”

Omar Artan was not named in the release but is the only World Cup referee from Somalia.

“Denying entry to Omar Artan, who has earned his place on the world stage through hard work and perseverance, is not right,” Chow said in a statement Tuesday.

“Toronto believes in fairness, inclusion, and giving talent the opportunity to shine. He would be welcome to referee here in our city,” she said. “I will be writing to FIFA to let them know he is welcome to referee here.”

Chow would not have been privy to the reasons U.S. officials denied Artan admission to the U.S.

British Columbia Premier David Eby also weighed in, saying the referee would be “welcomed and celebrated” in his province “for what he’s overcome and where he is today.”

“Let’s have him referee in Vancouver,” Eby said in a social media post on Tuesday.

Ontario Opposition Leader Marit Stiles agreed with Eby.

“Omar Artan earned his place on the world stage. With matches coming to Toronto, let’s make sure he is welcomed to referee at BMO field,” Stiles said in a social media post.

Decisions about who can come into Canada also rest solely with the federal government rather than city officials.

CBP noted, “admissibility determinations are made on a case-by-case basis using law enforcement, national security, and immigration information available at the time of inspection.”

FIFA said it was ultimately up to host countries to decide who to admit.

In a statement of his own, Artan said he remains positive, despite the setback.

“Despite the circumstances, I am in a positive mood and I am focused on the next challenges in my refereeing career,” he said.

With files from The Associated Pres