Somali Referee Omar Artan Dropped from 2026 World Cup After US Entry Denial
Omar Abdulkadir Artan, the Somali referee poised to make history as the first official from the East African nation to officiate at the FIFA World Cup finals, has been withdrawn from the tournament after being denied entry into the United States.
Artan, who was named the 2025 Confederation of African Football (CAF) Men’s Referee of the Year, had been selected among the 52 match officials for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico from 11 June to 19 July.
However, his participation has been cut short following his repatriation from Miami International Airport.
The referee, who is currently in Turkey, was refused entry by US immigration authorities. No official explanation has been provided for the decision, although Somalia is among several countries affected by travel restrictions introduced under the administration of President Donald Trump.
In a statement, FIFA confirmed that Artan would not be part of the competition owing to the immigration ruling.
“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.
It added that it had no role in immigration matters and had been informed by the relevant authorities that Artan’s status would not be altered.
“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.
“In line with previous FIFA events, a host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and who is admitted into their country,” the statement said.
A senior adviser at Somalia’s Ministry of Youth and Sports confirmed the development to the BBC, stressing that Artan had been travelling with valid documentation.
According to a Somali embassy official in Nairobi, the referee had been issued with a diplomatic passport to facilitate his journey after experiencing previous visa-related difficulties.
Despite the setback, Artan maintained a positive outlook and expressed gratitude to both FIFA and CAF for their support.
In remarks issued through Reuters, he said: “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.
“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.”
The incident has prompted the Somali Football Federation (SFF) to seek urgent clarification from FIFA regarding the circumstances surrounding the referee’s exclusion.
Meanwhile, Andrew Giuliani, head of the White House Task Force on the World Cup, defended the decision when speaking to the BBC World Service.
“While I can’t go into the derog [derogatory information] on that, I can tell you it was the right decision by Customs and Border Patrol and I support that decision,” Giuliani said.
Artan became a FIFA-accredited referee in 2018 and has built a distinguished career on the continent, including officiating matches at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
He also serves as an official in Somalia’s national football league championships.
His omission from the 2026 World Cup has been widely criticized by football enthusiasts who believe Artan has been victimized for no justifiable reason, a situation that could put a dent on the objective of the sport, which aims to unite the world.
It is also a disappointment for Somali football, with the nation losing what would have been a landmark moment and a source of immense pride on the global stage.
