2026 World Cup: Somali Referee Denied Entry To US

A FIFA World Cup referee, Omar Abdulkadir Artan, has been refused entry into the United States at the border just days before the tournament is set to begin.

According to AFP, Artan was denied entry into the USA despite holding a valid USA visa and traveling on a diplomatic passport.

He has flown back to Istanbul, where he has been staying.

“Omar Artan is among Africa’s most respected referees and deserves the support of the entire football community,” Ciise Aden Abshir, a senior advisor to Somalia’s Ministry of Youth and Sports and a former national team captain, told AFP.

“Denying him entry to the United States and preventing him from officiating scheduled matches harms not only him personally but also undermines football’s commitment to fairness, merit, and the spirit of fair play,” Abshir added.

Artan, who was born in Mogadishu, Somalia, in the early 1990s, was selected by FIFA as one of 52 center referees for this summer’s World Cup after earning a reputation as one of Africa’s top officials.

He has been officiating in the Somali national football league championships since he became a FIFA referee in 2018.

He was named 2025 African Referee of the Year by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and has handled multiple high-profile matches in the African Cup of Nations, CAF Champions League, and FIFA U-20 World Cup.