Omar Artan, a top African referee who was poised to become the first Somali to officiate at a World Cup, has been denied access to the United States and will be unable to work at the tournament. Fifa confirmed on Monday that Artan “will be unable to train and officiate at the Fifa World Cup 2026” after being refused entry at Miami International Airport over the weekend, despite reportedly holding a valid travel visa.
Fifa shifts responsibility to US government
In a statement, Fifa said it was “informed by authorities that Mr Artan’s status will not be changed at present” and emphasised that the governing body is not involved in host country immigration processes. “In line with previous Fifa events, a host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and who is admitted into their country,” the statement read. Somalia is among several nations subject to a broad travel ban imposed by the Trump administration, though specific reasons for Artan’s denial have not been disclosed.
Somali officials call for support
Ciise Aden Abshir, a senior adviser to Somalia’s Ministry of Youth and Sports and a former national team captain, expressed disappointment, stating that the decision “undermined football’s commitment to fair play.” He added, “Omar Artan is among Africa’s most respected referees and deserves the support of the entire football community. Denying him entry to the US 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.”
Artan, who was named Africa’s best referee last year, officiated at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations and has been a Fifa referee since 2018. He was scheduled to be among 170 officials overseeing the record 104 matches in the upcoming six-week tournament. Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has previously described Artan as “a symbol of inspiration for the new generation of Somalis.”
Travel issues plague World Cup preparations
Travel difficulties have long been flagged as a risk for this World Cup, particularly under the anti-immigration Trump administration. Artan joins a growing list of individuals encountering problems entering the US. Iranian players and officials have faced months of issues, leading to their training base moving from the US to Mexico. This week, Iranian officials claimed support staff were denied visas at the last minute, a dispute the US State Department contested. Iraqi striker Aymen Hussein was held and questioned for nearly seven hours at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport. Swiss midfielder Breel Embolo was also denied an entry visa last week, though Swiss authorities successfully appealed.
Artan is now believed to be in Istanbul, where he has been based in recent months. The situation has sparked calls for the football community to rally in support of the respected referee.
