Somali Referee Omar Artan Ruled Out of World Cup After U.S. Entry Rejection
World football governing body FIFA has confirmed that Somali referee Omar Artan will no longer take part in the 2026 World Cup after he was denied entry into the United States, one of the tournament’s co-hosts.
Artan, who had been selected among 52 match officials for the tournament across the United States, Mexico, and Canada, was reportedly stopped at Miami International Airport during routine immigration processing and later declared inadmissible by U.S. authorities.
According to officials, the decision followed additional vetting checks carried out by Customs and Border Protection, with the matter ultimately tied to immigration admissibility rules.
FIFA stated it had no authority over visa or entry decisions, stressing that such processes remain under the control of host nations.
The situation means Artan, who was poised to become the first Somali referee to officiate at a World Cup, will miss out entirely despite holding a valid visa according to Somali government sources.
Somalia has linked the development to broader travel restrictions affecting several countries under U.S. immigration policy frameworks introduced in recent years.
The decision has drawn disappointment in Mogadishu, where officials and sports figures had celebrated his historic appointment as a milestone for Somali football.
Artan, however, responded calmly, saying he remains focused on his refereeing career and hopeful of future international opportunities.
He had previously earned recognition as one of Africa’s top referees and was named the continent’s men’s referee of the year in 2025.
The World Cup is set to begin this week across its North American host nations, now without one of its anticipated landmark officiating debutants.
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