Somali Referee Omar Artan Denied US Entry but Will Receive Full World Cup Fee
Omar Artan, a Somali referee who has been officiating under Fifa since 2018, was denied entry to the United States to participate in the World Cup but will still be compensated with his full tournament fee.
Artan was detained and interrogated for 11 hours by US immigration officials at Miami International Airport on Monday. Despite holding a diplomatic passport and a single-entry US visa, both were rejected, and he was ultimately refused entry into the country.
A US government official stated that Artan's entry was denied due to an alleged
"association with suspected members of terror organisations".
Artan reported that border officials questioned him about his connections to the Somali militant group Al Shabab, to which he responded that he had no knowledge of the organisation.
"I had the right papers and everything. I had the right visa,"
"I'm just simply a referee who's trying to live his dream, the biggest dream of my life, to come to the World Cup."
Following the denial, Artan was placed on a flight back to Turkey. In Istanbul, Fifa officials assisted him before he boarded a flight to Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia.
According to sources cited by , although Artan will not participate in the World Cup, Fifa has committed to paying his salary in full. Referees are not informed of their exact fees prior to the tournament; payments are made after its conclusion.
Artan’s Career Highlights and Future Plans
Omar Artan, recognized as the 2025 Confederation of African Football (Caf) men's referee of the year, has recently been invited to officiate the UEFA Super Cup match between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa, scheduled for 12 August in Salzburg, Austria.
The 34-year-old referee expressed gratitude upon his return to Somalia, thanking
"my people and my country"after being warmly welcomed in his homeland. He has also expressed his determination to officiate at the 2030 World Cup.
Artan had a remarkable year in 2025, becoming the first Somali referee to oversee a continental final. In June 2025, he officiated the second leg of the African Champions League final, where Pyramids FC secured victory over Mamelodi Sundowns.
Additionally, Fifa appointed Artan to the U-20 World Cup held in Chile, where he refereed three matches, including the third-place playoff. At the end of the year, he officiated two group stage matches at the Africa Cup of Nations, having also participated in the 2024 edition of the tournament.
