2026 World Cup: Somali referee turned away on arrival in the United States

After visa restrictions imposed on the Iranian team to play their matches on American territory, a referee for the 2026 World Cup was prevented from entering the United States. Omar Abdulkadir Artan, who was to officiate at the World Cup, was turned away when he got off the plane on American soil, denounced Ciise Aden Abshir, senior advisor to the Somali Ministry of Youth and Sports, interviewed by AFP on Monday June 8. According to him, the referee’s visa was in order. The reasons for this rejection are not yet known, but Fifa immediately announced that the referee would not participate in the World Cup.

In a press release, the International Football Federation (Fifa) has indeed confirmed “that referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan will not be able to train or officiate at the 2026 World Cup, after being refused entry to the United States”. Somalia is one of several countries whose citizens are banned from traveling to the United States by the Donald Trump administration.

Omar Abdulkadir Artan “is among the most respected referees in Africa” ​​and “refusing him entry to the United States and preventing him from officiating (…) is detrimental not only to his person, but also undermines football’s commitment to equity, merit and the spirit of fair play”, regrettedé Ciise Aden Abshir.

For its part, Fifa affirms that it “does not intervene in the immigration procedures of the host country, including in the granting of visas, and has been informed by the authorities that Mr. Artan’s status will not be changed at this time”. “In line with previous competitions organized by Fifa, it is the government of the host country which ultimately determines who receives a visa and who is admitted to its territory.”reminded the body again.

Omar Abdulkadir Artan was to be the first Somali referee to officiate at a World Cup final phase. Aged 34, he is one of the 52 men in yellow selected to carry the whistle at the World Cup co-organized in June and July by Canada, Mexico and the United States. Holder of Fifa status since 2018, Artan officiates in the Somali championship and was named best referee of the year by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in 2025.

Somalia is in Donald Trump’s sights. At the end of November, the American president described it as “rotten country” and had announced its intention to end the special status protecting Somali nationals from expulsion.