FIFA has removed Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan from the World Cup officiating list after he was denied entry into the United States and sent back upon arrival at Miami International Airport.
Incident Details
The 34-year-old referee, who was named Africa's Best Referee for 2025 at the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Awards in November, had his travel facilitated by the Somali Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya. The embassy stated that they had issued him a diplomatic passport to assist with visa-related issues.
Artan traveled from Kenya through Turkey to Miami, but upon landing, he was denied entry and placed on a return flight to Turkey. No official reason has been provided for the denial.
FIFA's Response
Last week, FIFA had confirmed that Artan's visa situation was 'fully resolved' and that he would be available to officiate at the FIFA World Cup. However, on Monday night, FIFA released a statement saying: '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 statement added: '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.'
Context of US Travel Ban
Somalia is included in President Donald Trump's travel ban list. Last month, Trump referred to Somali immigrants in America as 'all crooks,' and in January, he called the nation 'the worst country in the world.' These remarks have raised concerns about potential discrimination in visa decisions.
Artan's removal from the World Cup list marks a significant setback for the referee, who had been recognized as the top official in Africa just months earlier.
