Top African Referee Omar Artan Speaks Out After FIFA World Cup Exclusion

Top African Referee Omar Artan Speaks Out After FIFA World Cup Exclusion

By Niyi Busari 

Award-winning Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan has broken his silence after being ruled out of officiating at the FIFA World Cup 2026 following his denial of entry into the United States.

FIFA confirmed on Monday that Artan would no longer participate in the tournament after U.S. immigration authorities refused him entry upon his arrival at Miami International Airport on Saturday.

The decision ends what would have been a historic milestone for Somali football, as Artan was set to become the first Somali referee to officiate at a FIFA World Cup.

In a statement to AFP, a FIFA spokesperson confirmed the development, stressing that the governing body had no authority over immigration decisions made by host nations.

“FIFA can confirm that match official Omar Abdulkadir Artan will be unable to train and officiate at the FIFA World Cup 2026 after he was denied entry into the United States,” the spokesperson said.

FIFA added that visa approvals and border admissions remain the responsibility of the host country and are outside the organization's control.

“FIFA is not involved in host country immigration processes, including visa adjudications, and has been informed by authorities that Mr Artan’s status will not be changed at present,” the statement read.

“In line with previous FIFA events, a host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and who is admitted into their country.”

According to a spokesperson for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Artan was subjected to additional screening after arriving in the country.

“During processing, the traveler underwent additional inspection, a routine part of CBP’s inspection process when officers need to verify information or determine admissibility,” the spokesperson said.

“Following inspection, the traveler, a referee for the FIFA World Cup, was determined to be inadmissible due to vetting concerns and was denied entry.”

The incident comes amid ongoing immigration restrictions affecting several countries, including Somalia, which remains on a travel ban list introduced by the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump as part of broader immigration measures.

Despite the setback, Artan remained optimistic about his future in football officiating.

“Despite the circumstances, I am in a positive mood and I am focused on the next challenges in my refereeing career,” he told AFP.

“I want to thank the football family for their messages and wish my colleagues all the best success during the World Cup. I look forward to joining them again in future competitions.”

Artan’s exclusion has drawn attention across the football community, with many expressing disappointment that a referee widely regarded as one of Africa’s rising officials will miss the sport’s biggest stage. Nevertheless, the Somali official has vowed to remain focused on his career and future international assignments.