Somali referee Omar Artan will reportedly receive his full FIFA remuneration for the 2026 FIFA World Cup despite being unable to participate in the tournament after being denied entry into the United States.
Artan’s World Cup dream was cut short when U.S. immigration authorities refused him entry upon arrival at Miami International Airport earlier this week.
The 34-year-old official was reportedly detained and questioned for about 11 hours before being informed that he would not be permitted to enter the country. His diplomatic passport and single-entry U.S. visa were rejected, preventing him from taking part in the competition.
According to reports, U.S. authorities cited alleged links to individuals suspected of having connections with terrorist organizations. However, Artan strongly denied any association with the Somali extremist group Al Shabab during the interrogation.
Reflecting on the incident, the referee expressed disappointment, insisting that he had complied with all travel requirements.
“I had the right documents and a valid visa. I am simply a referee pursuing the biggest dream of my career — officiating at the World Cup,” he said.
After being deported to Turkey, Artan received support from FIFA officials in Istanbul before eventually returning to Mogadishu.
Although he will no longer officiate at the World Cup, reports indicate that FIFA has decided to honour his full tournament payment. Referees are usually informed of their final earnings only after the competition concludes.
The setback comes despite Artan’s remarkable rise in international football officiating. In 2025, he was named the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Men’s Referee of the Year and became the first Somali referee to officiate a continental final, taking charge of the second leg of Pyramids FC’s CAF Champions League final triumph over Mamelodi Sundowns.
Artan has also officiated at major international competitions, including the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Chile and the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Looking ahead, the highly regarded official has already been appointed to referee the UEFA Super Cup clash between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa in Salzburg on August 12 and remains determined to achieve his ambition of officiating at the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
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