White House Defends Visa Ban for Somali Referee and Iranians

Andrew Giuliani, the executive director of the White House task force for the World Cup, defended the decision made on Tuesday not to grant visas to Somali referee Omar Artan and Iranian support staff. Giuliani stated that the U.S. aims to ensure that no "bad actors" can access the country during the tournament.

Omar Artan, recognized as the first Somali referee nominated for the Confederation of African Football's Men's Referee of the Year in 2025, was turned back at Miami airport due to being on a travel ban list introduced during President Donald Trump's administration. The Iranian football team will play three group games on American soil but will have to switch their training base to Mexico due to ongoing military conflicts.

Giuliani emphasized that the decision was made to maintain a level playing field and to ensure that individuals associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps do not gain access to the U.S. The White House will continue to monitor the situation.