Omar Artan, Somalia's top referee and Caf's 2025 referee of the year, was barred from entering the United States, losing his chance to officiate at the World Cup.
FIFA confirmed the decision with an official statement
Jun 09, 2026
03:42 pm
What's the storyOmar Abdulkadir Artan, a top Somali referee, has been barred from officiating at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The decision comes after he was denied entry into the United States.
The incident occurred on Saturday when Artan arrived at Miami International Airport but was refused entry by US authorities.
World Cup 2026: FIFA drops Somali referee Omar Artan after US blocks entry
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