FIFA World Cup referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan has been denied entry into the United States just days before the tournament is set to begin. Artan, a Somali national, was selected as one of Africa's referee representatives for the 2026 World Cup by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
Background of the Denial
In December, the US government classified Somalia as a 'high risk' country, imposing travel restrictions and entry limitations on its citizens. Despite initial difficulties in acquiring a visa, the Somali embassy in Nairobi, Kenya, intervened and secured a diplomatic passport for Artan. FIFA subsequently declared that the official's visa situation had been "fully resolved" and that he would be "available to officiate at the FIFA World Cup."
However, after traveling from Nairobi to Turkey and then to Miami, Artan was denied entry into the US and has since returned to Istanbul.
FIFA's Response
When contacted by Mirror Football, a FIFA spokesperson stated: "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. 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. In line with previous FIFA events, a host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and who is admitted into their country."
Artan's Statement
Artan has since issued a statement, saying: "Despite the circumstances, I am in a positive mood and I am focused on the next challenges in my refereeing career. I would like to thank FIFA and CAF for all their support and I promise to keep my refereeing levels up as I concentrate on the future. I want to thank the football family for their messages and wish my colleagues all the best success during the World Cup & I look forward to joining them again in future competitions."
Impact on the Tournament
Artan was one of eight referees selected by CAF for the competition. Other confederations also contributed referees: eight from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), one from the Oceania Football Confederation, 12 from Conmebol, and 15 from UEFA. It remains unclear who will replace Artan, and FIFA may face challenges in convincing the US government to reverse its decision.
Political Context
President Donald Trump, who was re-elected, has shown hostility towards Somalia. He has ordered air strikes on the country, citing the presence of Islamic State militants, and has targeted Somali communities in the US, particularly in Minnesota. Trump has publicly stated that Somalians in the US should "go back to where they came from" and that "their country is no good for a reason." He added, "I don't want them in our country. I'll be honest with you, OK. Somebody will say, 'Oh, that's not politically correct.' I don't care. I don't want them in our country. With Somalia, which is barely a country, you know, they have no, they have no anything. They just run around killing each other. There's no structure."
This political climate may complicate any efforts to change Artan's entry status.
