Omar Abdulkadir Artan, who was poised to become the first Somali referee to officiate at a FIFA World Cup finals, has been removed from the list of match officials after being denied entry into the United States.
Artan, the 2025 Confederation of African Football (CAF) Men’s Referee of the Year, was refused entry upon arrival at Miami International Airport and has since travelled to Turkey.
US immigration authorities have not provided an official reason for denying Artan entry. However, Somalia is among several countries affected by travel restrictions introduced under the administration of President Donald Trump.
Following discussions with US authorities, FIFA confirmed that Artan would no longer participate in the tournament.
“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 football governing body said in a statement.
“FIFA is not involved in host-country immigration processes, including visa adjudications, and has been informed by authorities that 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 its country.”
Artan’s exclusion marks a significant setback for Somali football, as he had been on course to make history as the nation’s first-ever referee at a World Cup finals.
