Somali Referee Omar Artan Dropped From World Cup After US Entry Denial
Sports Updated: 09 June 2026 09:44 EAT
Somali international referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan
Somali international referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan has been removed from the list of match officials for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after being denied entry into the United States. The decision ends his expected historic debut at the tournament, where he was set to become the first Somali referee to officiate at a World Cup finals.
FIFA confirmed that Artan will no longer participate in the competition following the immigration decision by US authorities. The governing body indicated that once entry is denied by a host nation, officials cannot be deployed for tournament duties in that country.
Reports indicate that Artan had travelled for the tournament through Istanbul and arrived in the United States ahead of the competition but was stopped during immigration processing at an airport in Florida. He was subsequently denied entry and returned.
US authorities have not publicly provided detailed reasons for the decision but maintained that all travellers are subject to enhanced screening procedures and that possession of valid travel documents does not guarantee admission into the country.
The development marks a major setback for Artan, who had been selected among FIFA’s elite referees for the expanded 2026 World Cup officiating panel hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Artan had built a strong reputation within African football after officiating in major Confederation of African Football competitions, including the Africa Cup of Nations, where he was among the continent’s most prominent referees.
He was also recognised for his rapid rise in international officiating circles after becoming FIFA-listed in 2018 and steadily progressing through high-level continental and international assignments.
His selection for the World Cup had been widely celebrated in Somalia, where football authorities and supporters viewed his appointment as a breakthrough moment for Somali representation on the global stage.
The removal has drawn attention because of the significance of the tournament and the sensitivity surrounding entry procedures into the United States, one of the three co-host nations for the 2026 edition.
With FIFA confirming his withdrawal, Artan’s anticipated World Cup debut will no longer take place, bringing an abrupt end to what had been a historic milestone for Somali football officiating.
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FELIX MAKONA
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