FIFA will pay Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan his full World Cup fee despite his exclusion from the 2026 tournament, a decision that has drawn fresh attention to the growing clash between global sporting events and national immigration policies.
Artan, who was set to become the first Somali referee to officiate at a FIFA World Cup, was denied entry into the United States earlier this month despite holding a valid visa and being officially selected by football’s governing body.
The incident immediately became one of the most controversial off-field stories of the tournament because it highlighted a difficult reality facing international sports competitions: while organisations such as FIFA choose referees, athletes and officials, final entry decisions remain in the hands of host governments.
A source familiar with the matter told Reuters that FIFA has decided Artan will receive his full tournament remuneration despite not officiating at any World Cup matches. The amount has not been disclosed.
The Somali official was named Africa’s Referee of the Year in 2025 and had become a symbol of Somalia’s growing presence in international football after decades in which conflict and instability limited the country’s participation on the global sporting stage.
