Blow as Africa's best referee is ruled out of 2026 FIFA World Cup
Reading Time: 2min | Tue. 09.06.26. | 07:38
The official was denied entry to the United States of America despite holding a valid visa
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.
Artan, the reigning CAF Men's Referee of the Year and one of Africa's most respected match officials, had been selected among the 52 chosen to officiate at the tournament.
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The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19.
His appointment was set to make him the first Somali referee to officiate at a FIFA World Cup final.
According to Somali authorities, Artan was denied entry upon arrival at Miami International Airport and was subsequently repatriated.
He is currently in Turkey. While US immigration authorities have not publicly provided a reason for the decision, Somalia is among the countries affected by travel restrictions introduced by President Donald Trump's administration.
In a statement, FIFA confirmed that Artan would miss the tournament after discussions with US authorities.
"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 world governing body said.
"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."
A senior adviser to Somalia's Ministry of Youth and Sports told the BBC that Artan had travelled with valid documents.
Meanwhile, a Somali embassy official in Nairobi revealed that the referee had been issued with a diplomatic passport specifically to facilitate his travel after earlier visa challenges.
The Somali Football Federation has since contacted FIFA seeking urgent clarification over the matter.
Artan became a FIFA referee in 2018 and has steadily risen through the ranks to become one of the continent's leading officials.
He has officiated at the Africa Cup of Nations and earned widespread recognition in 2025 when he was named CAF Men's Referee of the Year.
His exclusion from the World Cup is a major blow not only to his career but also to Somali football, which had been preparing to celebrate a historic milestone on football's biggest stage.
