A Somali referee poised to be the first from his nation to officiate at a World Cup has been barred from entering the United States, causing him to miss the prestigious tournament.
FIFA confirmed on Monday that Omar Artan “will be unable to train and officiate at the FIFA World Cup 2026,” attributing the situation to the US government. The organization stated that they were “informed by authorities that Mr. Artan’s status will not be changed at present.”
“FIFA is not involved in host country immigration processes, including visa adjudications… following the precedent set in previous FIFA events, it is ultimately up to the host government to decide who is granted a visa and who is allowed into their country,” the organization added.
Artan was denied entry upon arrival at Miami International Airport over the weekend, despite reportedly holding a valid travel visa. Somalia is among several nations affected by a sweeping travel ban imposed during the Trump administration. While the exact reasons for Artan’s entry denial remain unclear, representatives from the Somali government indicated that the action has “undermined football’s commitment to fair play.”
Officials in Somalia are urging the global football community to rally around Artan. “Omar Artan is one of Africa’s most esteemed referees and deserves the backing of the entire football community,” stated Ciise Aden Abshir, a senior adviser to Somalia’s Ministry of Youth and Sports and a former national team captain. His comments were initially shared with Agence France-Presse.
“Preventing him from entering the US and officiating in scheduled matches not only harms him personally but also undermines the principles of fairness, merit, and the spirit of fair play in football,” he added.
Currently, Artan is believed to be in Istanbul, where he has spent the previous months. Recognized as Africa’s top referee last year, he officiated at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations and has served as a FIFA referee since 2018. Artan was slated to be among the 170 referees, assistant referees, and video assistant referees overseeing a record 104 matches during the upcoming six-week tournament. The President of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, has previously referred to Artan as “a symbol of inspiration for the new generation of Somalis.”
Concerns regarding travel complications have been prevalent as the World Cup approaches, particularly under the anti-immigration policies of the Trump era. Artan’s situation adds to a growing list of individuals facing challenges in entering the US. Iranian players and officials have encountered similar issues for several months, prompting their training base to shift from the US to Mexico.
This week, Iranian officials reported that support staff had been denied visas at the last moment, a claim that the US State Department disputed. Additionally, Iraq striker Aymen Hussein experienced a nearly seven-hour detention and questioning at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport. Last week, Swiss midfielder Breel Embolo was also denied entry but Swiss authorities announced they had successfully appealed that decision.
