Somali referee Omar Artan has been withdrawn from officiating at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after being denied entry into the United States, ending his hopes of becoming the first Somali official to referee at football’s biggest tournament.
Artan, who was named the 2025 Confederation of African Football (CAF) Men’s Referee of the Year, was stopped by US immigration authorities upon arrival at Miami International Airport. He has since travelled to Turkey after being refused admission.
Although US officials have not publicly explained the reason behind the decision, Somalia is among the countries affected by travel restrictions introduced under the administration of US President Donald Trump.
Following discussions with US authorities, FIFA confirmed that Artan would not be able to participate in the tournament. The governing body stated that it does not influence host-country immigration decisions and had been informed that the referee’s immigration status would not be altered in time for the competition.
FIFA also noted that, as with previous international tournaments, the final decision regarding visas and entry into the host nation rests solely with government authorities.
The decision carries significant consequences because all match officials selected for the World Cup are required to be based at a dedicated training and preparation centre in Miami, established by FIFA refereeing chief Pierluigi Collina. The facility serves as the operational hub for the tournament’s 52 referees and 88 assistant referees.
Because officials must remain at the Florida base throughout the competition for training, preparation and security purposes, Artan would not have been permitted to officiate matches solely in Canada or Mexico, the tournament’s other host nations.
Officials from Somalia’s Ministry of Youth and Sports confirmed that Artan had been travelling with valid documentation, while a representative from the Somali Embassy in Nairobi revealed that he had been issued a diplomatic passport to facilitate travel after experiencing previous visa-related difficulties.
Despite the setback, Artan remained positive in comments released through Reuters. He expressed gratitude to FIFA and CAF for their support and pledged to continue developing as a referee while focusing on future opportunities. He also wished his fellow officials success at the World Cup and said he hoped to rejoin them at future international tournaments.
The Somali Football Federation has formally contacted FIFA seeking clarification regarding the circumstances surrounding the entry denial.
Meanwhile, Andrew Giuliani, who heads the White House Task Force for the World Cup, defended the decision during an interview with the BBC. While declining to discuss specific details, he stated that US Customs and Border Protection had made the correct decision and that he supported the outcome.
Artan, who became a FIFA-listed referee in 2018, has built a respected career officiating domestic and international matches, including fixtures at the Africa Cup of Nations. His exclusion represents a significant disappointment for Somali football, as he was set to make history at the expanded World Cup, which runs from 11 June to 19 July across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
