The head of the White House Task Force for the World Cup on Tuesday defended the decision to deny visas to a Somali referee and several support staff members of the Iranian team, citing security reasons. Andrew Giuliani, the task force's executive director, spoke at an Atlantic Council event in Washington, where he addressed the controversial visa denials.
Background on the Visa Denials
Giuliani stated that out of 35 teams that have entered the United States for the World Cup, no players or coaches have been denied entry. However, some officials have been denied for what he described as good reasons. He emphasized the need to strike a balance between allowing legitimate participants and preventing bad actors from entering the country under the guise of the tournament.
Somali Referee Omar Artan
When specifically asked about Somali referee Omar Artan, who was barred from entering the country at Miami airport, Giuliani said he could not go into details but assured that the decision was made for a very good reason. Artan, named men's referee of the year by the Confederation of African Football in 2025, would have been the first Somali to officiate at a World Cup. Somalia is among several countries affected by the Trump administration's travel ban list.
Iranian Team Complications
Iran, which is scheduled to play all three group games on American soil, faced additional challenges due to ongoing military conflict with the United States. The Iranian football federation reported that their ticket allocation for supporters was revoked and some team support staff were denied visas. Giuliani confirmed that all Iranian coaching staff are allowed entry, but some officials were denied for unspecified reasons. He hinted that some individuals claiming to be coaches might not actually be coaches.
Giuliani further explained that President Trump wants to ensure a level playing field for all teams while preventing individuals associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) from accessing the United States. He also noted that there are currently no credible threats to the tournament, but intelligence agencies remain vigilant and will continue monitoring until the final goal is scored on July 19.
