Somali Referee Omar Artan Denied Entry to US, Missing World Cup 2026
A Somali referee who was set to become the first from his country to officiate at a FIFA World Cup has been refused access to the United States and will be unable to participate in this summer's tournament.
FIFA confirmed on Monday that Omar Artan "will be unable to train and officiate at the FIFA World Cup 2026" due to being denied entry to the US. The organization issued a statement attributing the situation to the US government, stating they were "informed by authorities that Mr Artan’s status will not be changed at present."
FIFA emphasized that it is not involved in host country immigration procedures, including visa decisions, and noted, "in line with previous FIFA events, a host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and who is admitted into their country."
Artan was refused entry at Miami International Airport over the past weekend despite reportedly holding a valid travel visa. Somalia is among several countries subject to a broad travel ban instituted during the Trump administration. Although the specific reasons for denying Artan entry have not been disclosed, Somali government representatives criticized the decision as undermining football's commitment to fair play.
Somali officials have called for solidarity from the football community in support of Artan.
"Omar Artan is among Africa’s most respected referees and deserves the support of the entire football community,"said Ciise Aden Abshir, a senior adviser to Somalia’s Ministry of Youth and Sports and former national team captain, in a statement first shared with Agence France-Presse.
"Denying him entry to the United States and preventing him from officiating scheduled matches harms not only him personally but also undermines football’s commitment to fairness, merit, and the spirit of fair play."
Currently, Artan is understood to be in Istanbul, where he has been based in recent months. He was named Africa’s best referee in 2023 and officiated at the Africa Cup of Nations that year. A FIFA referee since 2018, Artan was slated to be among 170 referees, assistant referees, and video assistant referees overseeing a record 104 matches during the six-week tournament.
Somalia’s president, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, has previously described Artan as "a symbol of inspiration for the new generation of Somalis."
Travel Challenges for World Cup Participants Amid US Immigration Policies
Travel complications have been a known risk for this World Cup, particularly under the anti-immigration policies of the Trump administration. Artan is the latest individual to face difficulties entering the US.
Iranian players and officials have encountered issues for several months, leading to the relocation of their training base from the US to Mexico. This week, Iranian officials claimed that support staff were denied visas at the last minute, although the US State Department disputed these claims.
Additionally, Iraqi striker Aymen Hussein was detained and questioned for nearly seven hours at Chicago’s O’Hare airport. Swiss midfielder Breel Embolo was also denied an entry visa last week; however, Swiss authorities successfully appealed the decision.
