Award-winning Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan has been removed from officiating duties at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after being denied entry into the United States, FIFA confirmed on Monday.
Artan, who arrived at Miami International Airport on Saturday, was refused admission by US authorities, ending his hopes of becoming the first Somali referee to officiate at a World Cup tournament.
In a statement, FIFA said Artan would be unable to participate in the competition as either a match official or in pre-tournament training activities.
“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,” a FIFA spokesperson said.
The world football governing body stressed that visa and immigration decisions fall entirely within the authority of host governments and are beyond FIFA’s control.
“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,” the statement added.
Officials from the United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said Artan was denied entry following a routine inspection process.
According to CBP, the referee underwent additional screening to verify information and assess admissibility before authorities concluded that he was ineligible to enter the country due to unspecified vetting concerns.
The development comes amid tighter US immigration policies under President Donald Trump, whose administration recently expanded travel restrictions affecting several countries, including Somalia.
Despite the setback, Artan remained optimistic about his future in football officiating.
“Despite the circumstances, I am in a positive mood and focused on the next challenges in my refereeing career,” he said in a statement.
He also expressed gratitude for the support he has received from the global football community and wished his fellow officials success at the tournament.
“I want to thank the football family for their messages and wish my colleagues the very best during the World Cup. I look forward to joining them again in future competitions,” he said.
The incident has drawn attention to the impact of immigration policies on international sporting events, particularly as the United States prepares to co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico.
