Somali referee Omar Artan removed from World Cup officiating list following US entry denial
The 2025 CAF men's referee of the year was barred at Miami International Airport, adding to broader tensions surrounding visa restrictions for the 2026 tournament.
Omar Artan has been dropped from the officiating list for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after being denied entry to the United States. The Somali official, who was set to become the first from his nation to referee at a World Cup finals, was barred from entering the country at Miami International Airport and has since been repatriated to Turkey.
FIFA confirmed that Artan will be unable to train or officiate at the tournament, stating that host country immigration authorities determined his visa status would not be changed. The global governing body noted that it is not involved in host country immigration processes, including visa adjudications, and that a host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and who is admitted into their country.
Artan, the 2025 Confederation of African Football (CAF) men's referee of the year, holds a diplomatic passport and valid documents. A senior adviser to Somalia's ministry of youth and sports confirmed the denial of entry, noting that the diplomatic passport had been issued specifically to ease travel after earlier visa difficulties. The Somali Football Federation has contacted FIFA seeking urgent clarification regarding the situation.
The US administration cited derogatory information as the basis for the decision. Andrew Giuliani, who leads the White House Task Force on the World Cup, stated he supported the customs and border patrol's decision, though he declined to specify the nature of the derogatory information. Somalia is among several countries subject to travel restrictions introduced by the administration of President Donald Trump.
Artan has been a FIFA referee since 2018 and has previously officiated at the Africa Cup of Nations. He was one of 52 referees announced by FIFA to officiate at the tournament, which is co-hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States and runs from 11 June to 19 July 2026. This incident adds to broader tensions surrounding the World Cup, including visa issues affecting Iran’s national team and concerns about federal agents targeting foreign nationals.
