FIFA has confirmed that Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan will not officiate at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after being denied entry into the United States, ending his hopes of making history as the first Somali official to oversee matches at football’s biggest tournament.
Artan, who had been selected among the 52 match officials for the tournament, was removed from FIFA’s final list after U.S. immigration authorities refused him entry upon arrival at Miami International Airport on June 6.
The highly rated referee travelled from Istanbul, Turkey, and reportedly held a valid visa as well as a diplomatic passport issued through the Somali Embassy. However, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials flagged him during routine screening and declared him inadmissible over undisclosed vetting concerns.
Following the decision, Artan was placed on a return flight to Turkey, where he remains.
In a statement issued on Monday, FIFA acknowledged the situation and confirmed that the Somali official would no longer participate in the World Cup.
“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 added that it has no authority over immigration decisions made by host countries and had been informed that Artan’s status would not be altered.
The organisation reiterated that visa approvals and entry permissions ultimately rest with the host nation, in line with procedures followed during previous FIFA competitions.
Artan’s exclusion has sparked disappointment and criticism in Somalia, where officials and football stakeholders described the decision as a blow to the principles of fairness and merit that underpin international sport.
The referee had enjoyed a remarkable rise in African football and was recognised as one of the continent’s finest officials after being named CAF Men’s Referee of the Year in 2025.
The incident has also drawn attention to wider visa and travel concerns surrounding the 2026 World Cup. Reports suggest that members of Iran’s World Cup delegation encountered visa difficulties, forcing the team to establish its training base in Tijuana, Mexico, rather than within the United States.
With the tournament set to begin in a matter of days, Artan’s absence marks the end of a historic opportunity for Somali football and raises fresh questions about immigration challenges facing participants ahead of the global showpiece.
