Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan
Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan says his dream of officiating at the FIFA World Cup 2026 has been shattered after he was denied entry into the United States, despite travelling with what he described as valid documentation and a proper visa.
Artan was expected to become the first Somali referee to officiate at a World Cup finals. However, on Monday, he was summarily removed from FIFA's official list of tournament match officials after United States immigration authorities prevented him from entering the country upon his arrival at Miami International Airport.
While no official reason has yet been given for the decision, Somalia remains one of several nations heavily affected by stringent travel restrictions originally introduced by Donald Trump's administration.
Expressing his profound heartbreak over the situation, Artan admitted the decision has left him completely devastated. "I am very, very disappointed," Artan told the New York Times. "I am simply a referee who is trying to live his dream — the biggest dream of my life, to come to the World Cup."
