Why Omar Abdulkadir Artan won't officiate at FIFA World Cup 2026?
Artan has been one of the top officials in major competitions.
Omar Abdulkadir Artan, who was scheduled to be the first Somali referee at the World Cup finals, has been removed from the roster of officials. This comes after being denied entry to the United States.
Omar Artan, the 2025 Confederation of African Football (CAF) men’s referee of the year, was denied entry into the country at Miami International Airport. He is now in Turkey.
US immigration authorities have not provided a cause for Artan’s repatriation. However, Somalia is one of the nations on President Donald Trump’s travel restriction list.
FIFA confirms Omar Artan won’t officiate at the 2026 World Cup
After discussing with the US authorities, FIFA announced that Artan will miss the competition.
“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,” read a statement.
“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.”
“In line with previous Fifa events, a host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and who is admitted into their country.”
A top adviser to Somalia’s Ministry of Youth and Sports confirmed the refusal of entry to the BBC, claiming Omar Artan was travelling with legal documentation.
A Somali embassy officer in Nairobi told the BBC that Artan’s diplomatic passport was provided particularly to facilitate his trip after previous visa issues.
The Somali Football Federation (SFF) has contacted FIFA for immediate clarification. Artan was one of 52 referees announced by FIFA to preside in the World Cup finals in Canada, Mexico, and the United States, which run from June 11 to July 19.
Artan began his career as an official in the Somali national football league championships before becoming a FIFA referee in 2018. He has previously officiated in the Africa Cup of Nations.
Omar Artan speaks after being denied entry to the USA
“Despite the circumstances, I’m in good spirits and focused on the next challenges in my career. I want to thank the football family for the messages and wish my colleagues all the best during the World Cup.
“I’m looking forward to meeting them in the future. I want to thank FIFA and CAF (African Football Confederation) for all the support and promise to keep improving my level and focusing on the future.”
Who is Omar Artan?
He is a referee from Somalia.
Why was he denied entry into the USA?
US immigration authorities have not provided a cause.
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After earning a bachelor's degree in mass media, Rajarshi began his career as a sports writer in 2019, driven by his passion for sports journalism. He has been working in the field for over six years. A devoted fan of Lionel Messi and Barcelona, Rajarshi has been involved in sports since childhood. Before turning his focus to journalism, he even represented his college at the state level. Along with covering football, he enjoys playing the game, watching movies, and experimenting with new recipes in his spare time, as cooking is one of his favorite hobbies.