Addis Ababa, June 8, 2026 (FMC) — Somali international referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan’s historic FIFA World Cup debut has been thrown into uncertainty after he was reportedly denied entry into the United States just days before the start of the 2026 tournament.
Artan, who was selected by FIFA as one of the match officials for the World Cup, was traveling from Istanbul to Miami to attend a pre-tournament seminar for referees when he was reportedly refused entry upon arrival and subsequently returned to Istanbul. The reason for the U.S. decision has not been officially disclosed.
If confirmed unable to officiate, Artan would miss the opportunity to become the first Somali referee to oversee matches at a FIFA World Cup, marking a major setback for both his career and Somali football.
The 34-year-old official was named the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Men’s Referee of the Year in 2025 and has officiated at several major continental competitions, including the Africa Cup of Nations and CAF Champions League.
Somali sports officials said Artan was traveling with a valid U.S. visa and a diplomatic passport issued with the assistance of Somalia’s embassy in Nairobi. They expressed concern that the reported decision could prevent him from carrying out his World Cup assignment.
FIFA said it is looking into the matter, while Somali authorities have called for a resolution that would allow Artan to fulfill his duties at football’s biggest tournament. As of Monday, U.S. authorities had not publicly explained the reported denial of entry.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, is scheduled to kick off this week with a record 48 teams competing across the three North American nations.