June 14, 2026
(FILES) Somalian referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan gestures during the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) 2024 group D football match between Mauritania and Algeria at Stade de la Paix in Bouake on January 23, 2024. Award-winning Somali referee Omar Artan, set to be the first from his country to officiate at the World Cup, was denied entry to the United States, a sports ministry official told AFP on June 8, 2026. “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,” Ciise Aden Abshir, a senior advisor to Somalia’s Ministry of Youth and Sports and a former national team captain, told AFP. (Photo by KENZO TRIBOUILLARD / AFP)
Somali referee Omar Artan will receive his full World Cup remuneration despite being barred from entering the United States to officiate at the tournament.
Artan, 34, was detained and questioned for 11 hours by US immigration officials upon arriving at Miami International Airport on Monday before being informed that he would not be allowed into the country. His diplomatic passport and single-entry US visa were ultimately rejected.
