Somali referee Omar Artan, turned away on Saturday upon entering the United States, will not officiate during the Football World Cup scheduled to begin on Thursday, the International Football Federation (FIFA) announced on Monday June 9.
“Fifa confirms that referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan will not be able to train or officiate at the 2026 World Cup, after being refused entry to the United States,” the body said. “Fifa does not intervene in the immigration procedures of the host country, including in the granting of visas, and has been informed by the authorities that the status of Omar Artan will not be modified for the moment,” it is added in the press release.
“In accordance with previous competitions organized by Fifa, it is the government of the host country which ultimately determines who receives a visa and who is admitted to its territory,” the International Federation further recalled.
The reasons for the rejection of Omar Artan, who notably refereed in the African Cup of Nations (CAN), are not known. The US Border Patrol (CBP) explained that “on June 6, a Somali national arrived at Miami International Airport from Istanbul International Airport (…). During the formalities, the traveler was subjected to an additional inspection, a routine step.”
“Upon inspection, the traveler, a World Cup referee, was deemed inadmissible due to background check issues and was denied entry,” the US Homeland Security agency added. However, “Omar Abdulkadir Artan had a valid visa,” assured Ciise Aden Abshir, senior advisor to the Somali Ministry of Youth and Sports, on Monday.
Somalia in Trump’s sights
Somalia is one of several countries whose citizens are subject to a travel ban to the United States by the Donald Trump administration.
Omar Artan “is among the most respected referees in Africa” and “refusing him entry to the United States and preventing him from officiating (…) harms not only his person, but also undermines football’s commitment to equity, merit and the spirit of fair play,” regretted Ciise Aden Abshir. “The football community should support him during this difficult time,” said this former captain of the Somali national team.
Omar Artan said he was “in a positive state of mind” and indicated that he wanted to focus on “the next challenges of (s) his career as a referee”. He was to be the first Somali referee to officiate at a World Cup final phase. Aged 34, he was one of the 52 men in yellow selected to hold the whistle at the World Cup co-hosted in June and July by Canada, Mexico and the United States.
“I praise the efforts, professionalism and integrity demonstrated by referee Omar, who has become a source of inspiration for the new generation of Somalis,” said Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, president of this country which has never qualified for a World Cup, on the day of his appointment. Holder of Fifa status since 2018, Artan officiates in the Somali championship and was named best referee of the year by the Confederation of African Football in 2025.
Somalia is in Donald Trump’s sights. At the end of November, the American president described it as a “rotten country” and announced his intention to end the special status protecting Somali nationals from expulsion.
