Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan has been removed from the list of officials for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after being denied entry into the United States, FIFA confirmed on Monday.
Artan, who was set to become the first Somali referee to officiate at a World Cup finals, was stopped at Miami International Airport and redirected. He is currently in Turkey. US immigration authorities have not publicly stated the reason for the decision.
In a statement, FIFA said Artan would be unable to participate in training or officiate at the tournament after being denied entry into the United States. The governing body added that it does not influence host-country immigration processes and had been informed that Artan’s status would not be changed.
The decision has sparked concern in Somalia, where officials say Artan was travelling with valid documentation. A senior adviser to Somalia’s Ministry of Youth and Sports confirmed the incident, while a Somali embassy official in Nairobi said Artan had been issued a diplomatic passport to ease travel after previous visa-related difficulties.
The Somali Football Federation has contacted FIFA seeking urgent clarification over the matter.
Speaking to the BBC, Andrew Giuliani, head of the White House Task Force on the World Cup, defended the decision, saying US Customs and Border Protection had made the correct call, though he declined to discuss specific details.
Artan, named the Confederation of African Football’s Men’s Referee of the Year in 2025, was among 52 match officials selected by FIFA for the World Cup, which will be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico from 11 June to 19 July. A FIFA referee since 2018, he has previously officiated at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Oluwagbemisola Babalola
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