Omar Artan, a prominent Somali referee, will not officiate at the upcoming World Cup 2026 after being denied entry into the United States. This decision prevents him from participating in the tournament, where he was expected to become the first person from his country to take an on-pitch role. The referee, who was named the best male referee in Africa last year, was turned away by border officials in Miami despite reportedly holding a diplomatic passport and a single-entry US visa.
The denial of entry means Artan will miss the opportunity to officiate on football’s biggest stage, an ambition he had expressed prior to his departure. Following his removal from US soil, Artan is currently in Istanbul, Turkey, and is expected to return to Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, on Wednesday.
Career and recognition
Artan’s refereeing journey began in Mogadishu on local pitches after a leg injury ended his playing career. He first took up the whistle during a local match when players from both sides asked him to officiate a dispute. He continued in the role, overseeing organised competitions and informal fixtures in the city.
A significant influence in his early career was Osman Jama Dirac, the former head of referees in Somalia. Dirac provided both technical guidance and personal support during a period when Somali football had limited institutional structure and international exposure. Artan described Dirac as a father figure who ensured the well-being of referees, even providing meals for those in need in Mogadishu. Dirac’s death in August 2017 was a difficult moment for Artan, who noted that Dirac had been preparing him to become an international referee and would have been proud of his achievements.
Artan became a Fifa-listed referee in 2018 and steadily advanced through the African football scene, officiating in high-profile continental matches. He officiated at the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) and was recognised by the Confederation of African Football (Caf) as its top male official in November. He was also appointed by Caf to oversee the second leg of the African Champions League final between Moroccan club AS FAR and South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns last month.
In April, Somalia’s President Hassan Mohamud commended Artan’s effort, professionalism, and integrity after he was named among the 52 referees for the World Cup. Artan viewed this as a proud moment not just for himself, but for his family, the Somali people, the federation, and young referees, offering hope that a Somali referee could reach such a level. He had undertaken intensive preparation for the World Cup, focusing on physical, mental, and knowledge aspects to meet the standards required at the highest level of football.
Denial of entry and reactions
Artan travelled to the World Cup via Turkey on Saturday, intending to attend a pre-tournament seminar in Miami. This seminar is where Fifa referees’ chief Pierluigi Collina has established a training base for the selected referees and assistant referees. However, Somalia is among several countries on a travel ban list previously introduced by the US administration.
Upon arrival in Florida, Artan faced questioning by immigration officials for 11 hours, with the militant group al-Shabab reportedly among the topics raised. He was subsequently placed on a return flight after US immigration officials cited “vetting concerns.” All on-pitch officials for the World Cup are required to be based at Fifa’s Miami hub for training, preparation, and security. This requirement means it would not be possible for Artan to be assigned only to games played in Canada or Mexico.
Fifa stated that it is not involved in host country immigration processes, including visa adjudications, and has been informed by authorities that Artan’s status will not be changed at present. The organisation clarified that a host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and who is admitted into their country. The US State Department indicated that it welcomes “legitimate travellers” to the World Cup and adjudicates each visa application on a case-by-case basis after rigorous review and thorough vetting, also citing “national security and public safety” as factors in their visa process.
The Somali government expressed deep sadness over the situation and is undertaking diplomatic efforts to resolve the issue. Ciise Aden Abshir, a senior adviser to Somalia’s Ministry of Youth and Sports and a former national team captain, stated that denying Artan entry harms him personally and undermines football’s commitment to fairness and merit. Artan, in a statement, thanked Fifa and Caf for their support and expressed his intention to maintain his refereeing levels, wishing his colleagues success at the World Cup and looking forward to joining them in future competitions.
This incident is not isolated, as travel issues have been noted as a potential risk for this World Cup, particularly under the anti-immigration policies. Other individuals, including Iranian players and officials, and Iraq striker Aymen Hussein, have reportedly encountered difficulties entering the US. The Swiss midfielder Breel Embolo was also denied an entry visa last week, though Swiss authorities successfully appealed that decision. Africa will now be represented by referees at the tournament, which begins on Thursday and concludes on 19 July.
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Source: bbc.co.uk
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