Mogadishu: Somalian referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, who was set to make history as the first Somali official to referee at a FIFA World Cup finals tournament, has been removed from the list of match officials 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, was reportedly stopped at Miami International Airport and subsequently repatriated. Artan is currently in Turkey. US immigration authorities have not publicly disclosed the reason for the decision.
The development comes with travel restrictions affecting nationals from several countries, including Somalia, under policies introduced by the administration of US President Donald Trump. In a statement, FIFA confirmed that Artan would no longer be part of the officiating team for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The governing body started that, “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.” FIFA added that it does not play a role in host-country immigration procedures, including visa approvals and border entry decisions. The organisation noted that authorities had informed them Artan’s immigration status would not be altered at this stage.
A senior adviser to Somalia’s Ministry of Youth and Sports confirmed the incident, stating that Artan had been travelling with valid documentation. A Somali embassy official in Nairobi also revealed that the referee had been issued a diplomatic passport to facilitate his travel after previous visa-related challenges.
Despite the setback, Artan remained optimistic. Artan expressed gratitude to FIFA and CAF for their support and pledged to continue developing his refereeing career.
Artan remarked that, “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.” Artan also wished fellow officials success at the tournament and expressed hope of participating in future international competitions.
Meanwhile, the Somali Football Federation has contacted FIFA seeking urgent clarification regarding the circumstances surrounding the denial of entry. Andrew Giuliani, who leads the White House Task Force on the World Cup, defended the decision, saying he supported the action taken by US Customs and Border Protection, though he declined to discuss specific details.
Artan was among 52 referees selected by FIFA to officiate at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which is being jointly hosted by United States, Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19. A FIFA referee since 2018, Artan has officiated in major continental competitions, including the Africa Cup of Nations, and is widely regarded as one of Africa’s leading match officials.
The incident has sparked concern within Somalia’s football community, with officials and supporters questioning how the decision could affect representation from countries facing travel restrictions at global sporting events.
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