Somali referee Omar Artan will receive his full FIFA tournament remuneration despite being barred from entering the United States for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Artan, 34, was denied entry by U.S. immigration authorities after arriving at Miami International Airport earlier this week, effectively ending his participation in the tournament.
According to reports, the Somali official was detained and questioned for approximately 11 hours before being informed that he would not be allowed into the country. Despite travelling with a diplomatic passport and a valid single-entry U.S. visa, his entry was refused.
A U.S. government official reportedly cited alleged links to individuals suspected of involvement with terrorist organisations as the basis for the decision. However, Artan strongly rejected any such claims, saying he was questioned about possible connections to the Somali militant group Al Shabab.
“I had the right papers and everything. I had the right visa,” Artan said. “I’m just simply a referee who’s trying to live his dream, the biggest dream of my life, to come to the World Cup.”
Following the decision, Artan was placed on a flight to Turkey, where FIFA officials provided support before he returned to Mogadishu.
Although he will no longer officiate at the World Cup, sources told BBC Sport that FIFA has agreed to pay him in full. Referees are typically notified of their final earnings only after the completion of the tournament.
The development comes amid a remarkable career trajectory for the Somali official. In 2025, Artan was named the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Men’s Referee of the Year and made history as the first Somali referee to oversee a continental final when he officiated the second leg of Pyramids FC’s CAF Champions League triumph over Mamelodi Sundowns.
Artan also handled three matches at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Chile and later officiated at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Despite the setback, his international career remains on track. He has been appointed to referee the UEFA Super Cup clash between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa in Salzburg on August 12 and has expressed his determination to officiate at the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
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