Somali FIFA referee denied US entry ahead of 2026 World Cup

Monday June 8, 2026

Istanbul (AX) — Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan was reportedly turned away at the U.S. border over the weekend, just days before he was scheduled to join preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Artan, one of 52 referees chosen by FIFA for the tournament to be staged in the United States, Canada and Mexico, had been traveling from Istanbul to Miami on Saturday for a FIFA seminar for match officials, according to reports. He was reportedly refused entry upon arrival and sent back to Istanbul on Sunday.

Isse Aden Abshir, a senior adviser to Somalia’s Ministry of Youth and Sports and a former national team captain, said Artan held a valid U.S. visa.

“Omar Artan is among Africa’s most respected referees and deserves the support of the entire football community,” Abshir said.

He said barring Artan from entering the United States and stopping him from officiating planned matches would not only damage the referee personally but also weaken the sport’s standards.

“Denying him entry to the United States and preventing him from officiating scheduled matches harms not only him personally but also undermines football’s commitment to fairness, merit, and the spirit of fair play,” Abshir said.

FIFA has not publicly addressed the reported incident. Somali authorities and U.S. officials have also not said why Artan was allegedly denied entry.

The reports say Artan was stopped after landing in Miami from Turkey. One report said FIFA was looking into the matter.

The reported setback follows earlier accounts that Artan had run into trouble securing a U.S. visa before the tournament. According to claims circulating on social media, the Somali Embassy in Nairobi helped arrange his travel using a diplomatic passport.

Artan was selected by FIFA as one of the officials for the 2026 World Cup and was expected to become the first Somali referee to work at the tournament. FIFA has named 52 referees, 88 assistant referees and 30 video match officials for the competition.

Artan was recently crowned Africa’s best referee for 2025 at the CAF Awards in Rabat, Morocco, after climbing through continental competitions and handling major matches across Africa.

The reported denial came against the backdrop of U.S. travel restrictions affecting Somali nationals. A June 4, 2025, presidential proclamation fully suspended entry for nationals of several countries, including Somalia, with limited exceptions. The U.S. State Department later said visa issuance for Somali nationals had been fully suspended for immigrant and nonimmigrant categories, with limited exceptions including certain diplomatic and official visas.

It is still not clear whether Artan’s reported denial was tied directly to those restrictions or to a separate immigration matter.

The episode has stirred concern among Somali football officials and fans, who say Artan’s selection marked a historic moment for Somalia and an important milestone for African refereeing.