Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan has been ruled out of officiating at the FIFA World Cup 2026 after being denied entry into the United States.
Artan, who was set to become the first Somali referee to officiate at a World Cup, arrived at Miami International Airport from Istanbul but was refused admission following a routine immigration inspection. FIFA later confirmed he would miss the tournament. U.S. Customs and Border Protection stated that Artan was deemed inadmissible due to vetting concerns but did not provide specific details.
Artan, a FIFA-listed referee since 2018, has previously officiated at the Africa Cup of Nations. Somali sports officials expressed disappointment, calling the decision a setback for fairness and football’s global inclusivity.