Somali Referee Omar Artan Barred From US, Missing World Cup Spot

Sat Jun 13 2026 11:41:03 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Omar Artan, set to be Somalia’s first World Cup referee, was denied entry to the US and will not officiate at the 2026 tournament.

Somali referee Omar Artan, a 2025 CAF men's referee of the year, was barred from entering the United States at Miami International Airport and will miss the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The denial came despite Artan holding a diplomatic passport and valid documents. FIFA confirmed that the immigration decision was outside its control, and the Somali Football Federation is seeking clarification. The incident highlights how travel restrictions can affect global sporting events.

Somali Referee Omar Artan Barred From US, Missing World Cup Spot

Omar Artan, the 2025 Confederation of African Football (CAF) men's referee of the year and Somalia's first football official set to reach the FIFA World Cup finals, was denied entry into the United States at Miami International Airport. He is currently located in Turkey and will not be able to travel to the United States for the tournament.

Details on why US immigration authorities barred his entry have not been released. Somalia is among several countries listed on a travel ban that was introduced during the Trump administration.'

After speaking with US officials, FIFA announced that Artan will miss the 2026 World Cup. A statement said, "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 governing body added it has no involvement in host country immigration processes and has been informed that his status will remain unchanged for the time being.

The Somali Football Federation (SFF) has requested urgent clarification from FIFA regarding the decision. A senior advisor to Somalia's Ministry of Youth and Sports confirmed that Artan had valid diplomatic documents but was denied entry. An official from the Somali embassy in Nairobi indicated that a diplomatic passport was issued specifically to ease his travel after earlier visa difficulties.

In a statement, Artan said he remains positive despite the setback, and he thanked FIFA and CAF for their support. He promised to continue improving his refereeing standards and expressed hope to re‑join the football community at future competitions.'

FIFA announced a total of 52 referees for the World Cup, which will be played across Canada, Mexico and the United States from 11 June to 19 July. Artan, who became a FIFA referee in 2018, has also officiated at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and has been a key figure within the Somali national football league championships.'