Somali referee reportedly ruled out of World Cup after US entry denial

Somalian referee Omar Artan has been ruled out of officiating at the upcoming FIFA World Cup after being denied entry into the United States despite reportedly holding a valid visa.

US Customs and Border Protection confirmed on Monday that a Somali national scheduled to officiate at the tournament had been found inadmissible following security vetting procedures and was subsequently denied entry into the country.

Although authorities did not publicly identify the individual, FIFA later confirmed that Artan, who was selected to officiate at the tournament, would not be able to participate in training or referee matches during the competition.

In a statement as reported by Africanews, FIFA said it had no role in immigration decisions and had been informed by US authorities that Artan’s status would not be changed.

“In line with previous FIFA events, a host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and who is admitted into their country,” the football governing body said.

Artan, who was named Africa’s best referee last year, had been expected to represent the continent at the global tournament.

Reports indicate that he possessed a valid entry visa despite Somalia being among countries affected by US travel restrictions.

The decision has drawn criticism from Somali officials, who described the move as unfair and contrary to the principles of sport.

In a statement, Somali authorities said the decision “undermines football’s commitment to fairness, merit, and the spirit of fair play.”

The incident comes amid reports that several support staff attached to the Iranian national team have also been denied entry into the United States. Meanwhile, Iraqi international striker Ayman Hussein was reportedly detained for several hours at Chicago airport before eventually being allowed into the country.

Despite the setback, Artan remained optimistic about his future in football officiating.

In a statement, he thanked members of the football community for their support and wished fellow referees success at the tournament.

“Despite the circumstances, I am in a positive mood and I am focused on the next challenges in my refereeing career. I would like to thank FIFA and CAF for all their support and I promise to keep my refereeing levels up as I concentrate on the future,” Artan said.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is being co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, with the tournament set to kick off in Mexico City on Thursday.

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