Somalian referee Omar Artan will still receive his full FIFA World Cup remuneration despite being denied entry into the United States and subsequently missing the 2026 tournament.
The decision comes after the highly-rated official was turned back by US immigration authorities upon arrival in Miami, ending what would have been a historic World Cup appearance.
Artan, 34, was travelling to participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup when he was stopped by immigration officials at Miami International Airport.
Reports indicate that the referee 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 US visa, authorities reportedly rejected his documentation and denied him entry.
According to reports, US officials cited concerns over an alleged association with individuals suspected of links to terrorist organisations.
Referee Rejects Allegations
The Somali official said he was questioned extensively about possible connections to the militant group Al Shabab, allegations he strongly denied.
Expressing disappointment over the incident, Artan insisted he had complied with all travel requirements and was simply pursuing a lifelong ambition.
“I had the right papers and everything. I had the right visa,” he 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 before eventually returning to Somalia. FIFA officials reportedly provided support during his stopover in Istanbul.
Although he will not officiate any matches at the World Cup, FIFA has reportedly assured Artan that he will receive the full compensation allocated to referees selected for the tournament.
Sources familiar with the arrangement said match officials are usually informed of their final earnings after the competition concludes.
The move is seen as recognition that the referee’s absence from the tournament was beyond his control.
A Trailblazer In African Officiating
Artan’s exclusion comes amid one of the most remarkable rises in African football refereeing in recent years.
In 2025, he was named the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Men’s Referee of the Year and became the first Somali official to oversee a continental club final when he officiated the second leg of Pyramids FC’s CAF Champions League triumph over Mamelodi Sundowns.
His growing reputation also earned him appointments at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Chile and the Africa Cup of Nations.
Despite the disappointment, Artan’s international career continues to gather momentum.
The respected official has already been appointed to take charge of the UEFA Super Cup clash between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa in Salzburg on August 12.
Looking beyond the setback, Artan remains determined to achieve his dream of officiating at the 2030 FIFA World Cup, insisting that the incident will not define his journey.
