Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan has been ruled out of officiating at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after being denied entry into the United States despite holding a valid visa.
Artan, who was set to become the first Somali referee to officiate at a FIFA World Cup, arrived at Miami International Airport but was refused entry by U.S. authorities over what officials described as security and vetting concerns.
According to reports, U.S. Customs and Border Protection found the referee inadmissible following additional screening. Authorities reportedly cited alleged associations with individuals suspected of links to a terrorist organisation, although no public evidence has been released to support the claims.
FIFA confirmed that Artan would no longer be part of the tournament’s officiating team, noting that all match officials are required to train and operate from a central base in the United States before and during the competition.
The 34-year-old official was among the referees selected for the tournament and had been expected to make history as the first Somali referee at football’s biggest event. He was also named Africa’s Best Male Referee in 2025.
The development has drawn disappointment from Somali football authorities and government officials, who described the decision as a setback for Somali football and called for greater clarity over the circumstances surrounding the visa denial.
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