US and FIFA officials targeting Arab and Muslim World Cup players and fans, community leaders tell Arab News

CHICAGO: Arab and Muslim American leaders have accused the Customs and Border Protection agency and FIFA World Cup officials of targeting players from the Arab and Muslim worlds.

Even before the tournament began, the US began denying entry to prominent players and referees from Arab and Muslim nations. 

Community leaders are demanding that FIFA officials address what they see as discrimination.

“The World Cup should bring nations together, not apart. In the spirit of sports, why is our country creating barriers such as visa denials, detentions, screenings and restricted travel — preventing athletes, team officials and fans from participating?” Warren David, president of the Arab America Foundation, told Arab News.

“This is deeply disturbing. The world is watching. The credibility of the World Cup tournament depends on equal rights for everyone involved.”

On Tuesday, CBP refused entry to Omar Artan, who was set to become the first Somali to referee at the World Cup but was barred from entering the US at Miami International Airport.

Named the 2025 Confederation of African Football Men’s Referee of the Year, Artan was dropped from the World Cup officials’ list after FIFA failed to protest the US decision.

There have been many other incidents reported since at US airports. “I’m extremely concerned about these reports, even though they’re not entirely surprising considering the deteriorating bilateral relations between the US and Arab, Muslim and other Third World countries,” Khalil Jahshan, executive director of the Arab Center in Washington D.C, told Arab News. “It’s very sad.”

Jenin Younes, president and legal director of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, told Arab News that this World Cup is