Somali referee Omar Artan described enduring an 11-hour immigration questioning session before US officials rejected his entry for the World Cup despite valid paperwork and authorization.

Artan, positioned to become the first Somali referee at a World Cup finals, was removed from the officials roster on Monday following his exclusion at Miami International Airport.

US immigration authorities provided no explanation for the repatriation, though Somalia ranks among nations subject to a travel restriction introduced under President Donald Trump's administration.

After consulting US officials, world football body Fifa confirmed Artan would miss the event.

"I am very, very disappointed," Artan told the New York Times. "I'm just simply a referee who's trying to live his dream - the biggest dream of my life, to come to the World Cup."

A Fifa statement on the decision said: "Fifa can confirm that match official Omar Abdulkadir Artan will be unable to train and officiate at the Fifa World Cup 2026 after he was denied entry into the United States.

"Fifa is not involved in host country immigration processes, including visa adjudications, and has been informed by authorities that Mr Artan's status will not be changed at present."

A senior adviser to Somalia's ministry of youth and sports verified the entry denial to the BBC and noted Artan traveled with proper documents.

A Somali embassy official in Nairobi informed the BBC that Artan's diplomatic passport was issued specifically to facilitate travel following prior visa challenges.

"I had the right papers and everything. I had the right visa," said Artan.

After the lengthy immigration interview, Artan said he was moved to a separate holding area where he remained for several hours before boarding a flight back to Istanbul, Turkey.

Speaking to BBC World Service, Andrew Giuliani, who leads the White House Task Force on the World Cup, said: "While I can't go into the derog on that I can tell you it was the right decision by customs and border patrol and I support that decision."

It would not be possible for Artan to remain outside the United States and only officiate matches in Canada or Mexico.

Referees' chief Pierluigi Collina has established a training hub for the tournament's 52 referees and 88 assistant referees in Miami.

All on-pitch officials must remain at the Florida base for training, preparation and security.

In December, Trump told reporters he does not want Somali immigrants in the US, and they should "go back to where they came from".

"I think that they have a problem with my country," Artan added.

The World Cup runs from 11 June to 19 July.

An official in the Somali National League, Artan became a Fifa referee in 2018 and has officiated at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Artan's situation represents the latest setback for the World Cup, with Iran's football federation stating on Tuesday that their allocation of fan tickets for the group stage has been revoked.

Pundit and former England striker Ian Wright has described the tournament as a "World Cup of chaos", saying in a video on Instagram: "Every few hours, it's another story about fans denied, player denied, officials denied, journalists denied, now refs.

"I'm laughing but it's not funny. It's actually not funny and something has to be said. The most expensive tickets ever, expensive accommodation, transport through the roof.

"Is this how the hosts behave for the greatest game, the greatest tournament in the world? Are we not hearing more? Are we seeing how Qatar got dragged, are we not hearing more? Is this the spirit of football, really?

"I feel for the American fans who are desperate for this - how embarrassing for them this must be.

"This is a World Cup of chaos."