Omar Artan, Africa's top referee and the 2025 CAF Referee of the Year, was excluded from the World Cup due to his inability to enter the United States. Artan, who was turned away at Miami International Airport, is currently in Turkey. FIFA confirmed that Artan cannot officiate at the 2026 World Cup as he was denied entry to the US.
Artan, 34, is one of Africa's most prominent referees. He became a FIFA international referee in 2018 and officiated the 2025 African Champions League final. This year, he served as a member of the refereeing committee and led the officials' team in the same competition's final.
US immigration authorities have not disclosed the reason for Artan's return. Somalia is among the countries listed in the travel ban issued by the Trump administration. FIFA stated that after discussions with US authorities, Artan will not be able to officiate at the World Cup.
FIFA's statement read: 'Match official Omar Abdulkadir Artan cannot perform match officiating and training duties at the 2026 World Cup due to lack of entry permission to the US. FIFA has no role in the host country's immigration processes, visa approvals or rejections. The relevant authorities informed us that Artan's situation remains unchanged.'
The statement added: 'As in previous editions, the final decision on whether an individual will receive a visa and be allowed to enter the country rests with the host country's government.'
A senior advisor at Somalia's Ministry of Youth and Sports confirmed to the BBC that Omar Artan was not allowed to enter the US. He stated that Artan was traveling with valid travel documents.
An official at the Somali Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya, told the BBC that a diplomatic passport was specially issued for Artan to facilitate his travel due to previous visa complications.
The Somali Football Federation (SFF) has contacted FIFA for an urgent explanation regarding the incident.
Andrew Giuliani, head of the White House Task Force on the World Cup, told BBC World Service: 'I cannot provide detailed information on negative or confidential information regarding this matter. However, I can say that the decision by Customs and Border Protection was correct, and I support that decision.'
In a statement to AFP, Artan said he wants to focus on the future. Artan said: 'Despite the situation I am going through, I remain positive and am focusing on the next challenges in my refereeing career.'
Artan added: 'Thank you to everyone in the football family who has sent messages of support and best wishes. My best wishes go out to my colleagues who will be officiating at the World Cup. I look forward to working with them again in future competitions.'
Artan was one of 52 referees selected by FIFA to officiate at the 2026 World Cup. The tournament, to be held jointly in Canada, Mexico, and the United States, will take place from June 11 to July 19.
