Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan will not be participating in the 2026 FIFA World Cup after U.S. authorities denied him entry into the country, preventing him from joining the tournament preparations and officiating duties.
Artan was among the 52 referees selected by FIFA for the World Cup, which is being co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. His appointment was a historic achievement, as he was set to become the first Somali referee to officiate at a men’s FIFA World Cup.
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According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Artan arrived at Miami International Airport from Istanbul over the weekend but was found inadmissible following additional screening. U.S. officials cited unspecified “vetting concerns” as the reason for the decision. Artan returned to Turkey.
FIFA confirmed on Monday that Artan would be unable to take part in the tournament. In a statement, the governing body said it does not participate in host-country immigration decisions and had been informed that Artan’s status would not change before the competition.
Despite Artan reportedly holding a valid U.S. visa at the time of travel. Reuters reported that Somali officials and the Somali Football Federation expressed disappointment over the incident, describing his World Cup selection as a significant moment for Somali football.
Artan has emerged as one of Africa’s most respected football officials in recent years. As a FIFA-listed referee since 2018, he has officiated major Confederation of African Football competitions and was named the Confederation of African Football’s Best Male Referee for 2025.
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In comments reported by Reuters, Artan thanked FIFA, the Confederation of African Football and supporters for their backing. He said he would remain focused on future assignments and wished fellow match officials success during the World Cup.
The World Cup is scheduled to begin this week, with officials arriving ahead of the tournament for mandatory training and preparation activities. FIFA has not announced any change to its overall officiating plans beyond confirming that Artan will not be involved in the world cup event.