The head of the White House Task Force for the World Cup, Andrew Giuliani, has defended the decision to deny entry to Somali referee Omar Artan and several Iranian officials ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Giuliani said the measures were necessary to protect the tournament’s integrity and security, insisting that while no players or coaches had been refused visas, some officials were denied entry “for good reason.”

Responding to questions about Artan, who was set to become the first Somali referee to officiate at a World Cup, Giuliani declined to provide specific details but maintained the decision was justified. He also addressed concerns involving Iran’s delegation, stating that all members of the team’s coaching staff would be allowed entry, although some officials had been denied visas as part of broader security measures.

The visa controversy comes amid travel restrictions affecting Somalia and ongoing tensions between the United States and Iran. Despite the concerns, Giuliani said there were currently no credible threats to the tournament and revealed that intelligence agencies had significantly increased security efforts to ensure a safe and successful World Cup.