Monday June 8, 2026
Istanbul (HOL) — Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan was reportedly denied entry to the United States over the weekend, days before he was due to attend preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Artan, one of 52 referees selected by FIFA for the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico, was traveling from Istanbul to Miami on Saturday to attend a FIFA seminar for match officials, according to reports. He was reportedly refused entry on arrival and returned to Istanbul on Sunday.
“Omar Artan is among Africa’s most respected referees and deserves the support of the entire football community,” Abshir said.
He said denying Artan entry and preventing him from officiating scheduled matches would harm both the referee and the integrity of the sport.
“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,” Abshir said.
FIFA has not issued a public statement on the incident. Somali authorities and U.S. officials have also not publicly commented on why Artan was reportedly denied entry.
The reports indicate that Artan was turned away after arriving in Miami from Turkey. The report said FIFA was investigating the matter.
Artan’s case follows earlier reports that he had faced difficulty obtaining a U.S. visa before the tournament. The Somali Embassy in Nairobi reportedly helped facilitate his travel on a diplomatic passport, according to accounts circulating on social media.
Artan was selected by FIFA as one of the referees for the 2026 World Cup, where he was expected to become the first Somali referee to officiate at the tournament. FIFA has appointed 52 referees, 88 assistant referees and 30 video match officials for the competition.
Artan was recently named Africa’s best referee for 2025 at the CAF Awards in Rabat, Morocco, after rising through continental competitions and officiating major African matches.
The reported entry denial comes amid U.S. travel restrictions affecting Somali nationals. A June 4, 2025, presidential proclamation fully suspended entry for nationals of several countries, including Somalia, with limited exceptions. The U.S. State Department later said visa issuance for Somali nationals was fully suspended for immigrant and nonimmigrant categories, with limited exceptions including certain diplomatic and official visas.
It remains unclear whether Artan’s reported denial was directly linked to the travel restrictions or another immigration issue.
The incident has raised concern among Somali football officials and supporters, who say Artan’s selection was a historic moment for Somalia and a milestone for African refereeing.
