FIFA confirms Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan barred from 2026 World Cup after US entry denial

FIFA has confirmed that Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan will not officiate at the 2026 World Cup after being denied entry into the United States. The decision follows Artan’s arrival at Miami International Airport on June 6, where US authorities prevented his entry citing "vetting concerns."

In a statement released following the incident, a FIFA spokesperson acknowledged that Artan would be unable to train or officiate during the tournament. The organisation emphasised that it does not participate in host country immigration processes or visa adjudications, noting that host governments retain the ultimate authority to determine who is admitted into their territory.

US Customs and Border Protection stated that Artan was "determined to be inadmissible due to vetting concerns and was denied entry." FIFA confirmed it would not challenge the decision, aligning with its stance that visa admissions are solely within the jurisdiction of the host nation.

Artan, who was named the 2025 Confederation of African Football referee of the year, had been selected among 52 officials for the expanded tournament. His selection marked a historic milestone as the first person from Somalia to referee a continental final, having taken charge of the 2024-25 CAF Champions League finals.

Somalia is listed among the 39 countries subject to the US travel ban, although exemptions typically exist for World Cup athletes and staff. It remains unclear whether FIFA will appoint a replacement referee or simply reassign matches, as specific officiating rosters are not published until 24 to 48 hours before each game.

The 2026 World Cup features an expanded roster of 52 referees, an increase of 16 from the 2022 tournament in Qatar, to accommodate the expansion to 48 teams and 104 matches. The tournament is set to commence on Thursday with the opening match between Mexico and South Africa.