First Somali World Cup Referee Omar Artan Dropped After US Denies Him Entry
Omar Abdulkadir Artan, who was poised to make history as the first Somali referee to officiate at a FIFA World Cup finals, has been dropped from the list of match officials for the 2026 tournament after being denied entry into the United States.
Artan, the 2025 Confederation of African Football (CAF) Men’s Referee of the Year, was reportedly stopped at Miami International Airport and denied entry by U.S. immigration authorities. He has since been repatriated and is currently in Turkey.
No official reason has been provided for the decision by U.S. authorities. However, Somalia is among a number of countries affected by travel restrictions introduced under the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump.
In a statement confirming the development, FIFA said Artan would be unable to participate in the tournament despite being selected among the 52 referees appointed to officiate at the World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19.
“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,” the governing body said.
FIFA emphasized that it has no authority over immigration decisions made by host nations.
“FIFA is not involved in host-country immigration processes, including visa adjudications, and has been informed by the authorities that Mr. Artan’s status will not be changed at present. In line with previous FIFA events, a host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and who is admitted into their country,” the statement added.
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A senior adviser to Somalia’s Ministry of Youth and Sports confirmed the incident to the BBC, stating that Artan had been traveling with valid documentation. Meanwhile, a Somali embassy official in Nairobi disclosed that Artan had been issued a diplomatic passport specifically to facilitate his travel after encountering visa-related difficulties in the past.
The Somali Football Federation (SFF) has since contacted FIFA seeking urgent clarification regarding the circumstances surrounding the referee’s exclusion from the tournament.
Speaking to the BBC World Service, Andrew Giuliani, who heads the White House Task Force on the World Cup, defended the decision by U.S. authorities.
“While I can’t go into the derogatory information on that, I can tell you it was the right decision by Customs and Border Protection, and I support that decision,” Giuliani said.
Artan has built an impressive refereeing career over the years. He became a FIFA-listed referee in 2018 and has officiated at major continental competitions, including the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). He also serves as an official in Somalia’s national football league championships.
His exclusion from the 2026 FIFA World Cup has sparked disappointment among many football followers, particularly in Somalia, where his appointment had been celebrated as a historic milestone for the country’s football community.
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