Somalian referee Omar Artan will miss the 2026 FIFA World Cup after being denied entry into the United States, ending his hopes of becoming the first official from his country to referee at football’s biggest tournament.
Artan, who was named the Confederation of African Football’s Men’s Referee of the Year in 2025, was stopped by immigration authorities upon arrival at Miami International Airport and subsequently left the country.
FIFA later confirmed that the experienced match official would not be part of the tournament after discussions with US authorities failed to resolve the situation.
FIFA confirms referee’s withdrawal
In a statement, FIFA 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.”
The governing body added that immigration decisions remain the responsibility of host nations.
“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.”
Artan had been selected as one of the officials for the tournament and was expected to participate in preparations at FIFA’s refereeing base in Miami.
All referees and assistant referees assigned to the World Cup are required to remain at the training hub in Florida for technical preparation, fitness work and security arrangements throughout the competition.
Somalia seeks clarification
No official reason has been provided for Artan’s denial of entry. However, Somalia is among countries affected by travel restrictions introduced by the administration of US President Donald Trump.
Officials from Somalia’s sports ministry and diplomatic representatives confirmed that Artan had been travelling with valid documentation, including a diplomatic passport issued to facilitate his travel.
The Somali Football Federation has reportedly contacted FIFA seeking clarification over the incident.
Despite the setback, Artan remained optimistic about the future.
“I would like to thank Fifa and Caf for all their support and I promise to keep my refereeing levels up as I concentrate on the future,” he said.
“I want to thank the football family for their messages and wish my colleagues all the best success during the World Cup and I look forward to joining them again in future competitions,” he told Reuters.
Artan became a FIFA-listed referee in 2018 and has officiated at several major African competitions, including the Africa Cup of Nations.
