Somali judge Omar Artan will be missed 2026 FIFA World Cup after he was denied entry to the United States, ending his hopes of becoming the first official from his country to officiate at soccer’s biggest tournament.
Artan, who was named the 2025 Male Referee of the Year by the Confederation of African Football, was stopped by immigration authorities on 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 talks with US authorities failed to resolve the situation.
FIFA confirmed the withdrawal of the referee
In a statement, FIFA said: “Fifa can confirm that match official Omar Abdulkadir Artan will not be able to coach and referee at the 2026 Fifa World Cup after being refused entry to the United States.”
The governing body added that decisions on immigration remain the responsibility of host countries.
“FIFA is not involved in the host country’s immigration process, including visa decisions, and has been informed by the authorities that Mr Artan’s status will not be changed at this time.”
Artan was selected as one of the tournament officials and was expected to take part in preparations at FIFA’s refereeing base in Miami.
All referees and assistant referees assigned to the World Cup must remain at the training center in Florida for technical preparation, fitness work and safety measures during the competition.
Somalia seeks clarification
No official reason was given why Artan was refused entry. However, Somalia is among the countries affected by travel restrictions imposed by the administration of US President Donald Trump.
Officials from the Somali Sports Ministry and diplomatic representatives confirmed that Artan traveled with valid documentation, including a diplomatic passport issued to facilitate his travel.
The Somali Football Association has reportedly contacted FIFA seeking clarification on the incident.
Despite the setback, Artan remained optimistic about the future.
“I would like to thank Fifa and Cafe for their support and I promise to keep my refereeing at a high level as I concentrate on the future,” he said.
“I want to thank the football family for their messages and wish my colleagues the best 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 African Cup of Nations.
