Historic debut at football’s biggest tournament cut short as FIFA confirms Somali official will miss the 2026 World Cup.
Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan will not officiate 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 showpiece tournament.
Artan, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Men’s Referee of the Year for 2025, was turned away upon arrival at Miami International Airport and has since returned to Turkey. The decision has sparked concern among Somali football authorities, who say he was travelling with valid documentation.
No official reason has been provided by US immigration authorities for refusing Artan entry. However, Somalia is among several countries affected by travel restrictions imposed by the administration of President Donald Trump.
FIFA confirmed that Artan’s exclusion from the tournament stems from the US authorities’ decision and stressed that immigration matters fall solely under the jurisdiction of the host nation.
“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 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 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.”
Artan’s absence is particularly significant given the historic nature of his appointment. Widely regarded as one of Africa’s top referees, he was set to become the first Somali to officiate at a FIFA World Cup finals, marking a milestone for both Somali football and African refereeing.
The tournament’s referees and assistant referees are required to be based at a FIFA training and preparation centre in Miami, established under the supervision of FIFA Referees Committee chairman Pierluigi Collina. With all match officials mandated to remain at the Florida camp throughout the competition, Artan’s exclusion from the United States automatically rules him out of the tournament, including matches scheduled in Canada and Mexico.
Somali officials have expressed disappointment over the development. A senior adviser at Somalia’s Ministry of Youth and Sports confirmed that Artan was carrying valid travel documents, while a Somali embassy official in Nairobi said he had been issued a diplomatic passport to facilitate his travel following earlier visa challenges.
Artan Remains Focused on Future
Despite the setback, Artan remained gracious and optimistic about his future.
“I would like to thank FIFA and CAF for all their support and I promise to keep my refereeing levels up as I concentrate on the future,” he said.
“I want to thank the football family for their messages and wish my colleagues every success during the World Cup. I look forward to joining them again in future competitions.”
The Somali Football Federation (SFF) has formally sought clarification from FIFA regarding the circumstances surrounding Artan’s exclusion.
Meanwhile, Andrew Giuliani, head of the White House Task Force on the World Cup, defended the decision, telling the BBC World Service that while he could not discuss specific details, he believed US Customs and Border Protection had made the correct call.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, runs from June 11 to July 19.
Artan became a FIFA referee in 2018 and has officiated at several major continental competitions, including the Africa Cup of Nations. His omission from the World Cup represents a disappointing end to what would have been a landmark moment for Somali football.
