Somali referee Omar Artan has been ruled out of officiating at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after being denied entry into the United States, despite holding what he described as valid documentation and a visa.
Artan, who was set to become the first Somali referee to take charge at a World Cup finals, was stopped at Miami International Airport and subjected to an 11-hour immigration interview before being sent back to Istanbul.
He was later informed he would not be allowed to enter the country, effectively ending his participation in the tournament.
No official reason has been given by US immigration authorities, though Somalia is among several countries affected by a travel restriction policy introduced under the administration of President Donald Trump.
FIFA confirmed the decision, stating that Artan would not be able to train or officiate at the tournament after being denied entry.
“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 said. “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.”
Artan expressed deep frustration over the decision, insisting he had followed all required procedures.
“I am very, very disappointed,” he told the New York Times. “I’m just simply a referee who’s trying to live his dream ; the biggest dream of my life, to come to the World Cup.”
He added: “I had the right papers and everything. I had the right visa.”
According to Artan, after the prolonged questioning process at Miami airport, he was placed in a holding cell for several hours before being deported on a flight to Istanbul.
A Somali embassy official in Nairobi confirmed that Artan had been travelling on a diplomatic passport issued to assist with previous visa complications, while a senior adviser to Somalia’s ministry of youth and sports also verified he had valid documentation.
The decision has sparked wider discussion around immigration policy and its impact on international sporting events, with Artan’s case drawing particular attention given his historic appointment to the officiating team.
This makes the African representation cut to 6
FIFA referees chief Pierluigi Collina had included Artan among the 52 referees and 88 assistant referees selected for the tournament, all of whom are required to remain at a central training base in Miami for preparation.
However, Artan’s removal from the list now means he will not take any part in the tournament, regardless of matches staged in Canada or Mexico.
The 32-year-old said he believes the situation reflects broader political tensions.
“I think that they have a problem with my country,” he said, reflecting on the decision that ended his World Cup dream.
