Omar Artan, an acclaimed Somali referee, has been removed from the officiating roster for the FIFA World Cup 2026 after being denied entry to the United States, the tournament’s co-host. This development was confirmed by FIFA on Monday, after Artan was refused entry upon his arrival at Miami International Airport on Saturday.
Had he been allowed to participate, Artan would have made history as the first Somali referee to officiate at a World Cup event. Instead, his journey was abruptly halted by immigration authorities, barring him from training or officiating during the tournament.
FIFA’s Position and Host Country Authority
In a statement to reporters, a FIFA spokesperson clarified that the organization holds no sway over immigration decisions made by host countries. “FIFA is not involved in host country immigration processes, including visa adjudications,” the spokesperson explained, further noting that “Mr Artan’s status will not be changed at present.”
The spokesperson reiterated that, consistent with previous FIFA tournaments, it is ultimately the prerogative of the host nation—in this case, the United States—to decide who is granted visas and entry.
Meanwhile, a representative from United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) confirmed that Artan was denied entry following a routine inspection process. The additional scrutiny during processing, described as standard procedure, led to the refusal of admission.
This incident highlights the complex interplay between international sporting events and immigration regulations, particularly when events are hosted across multiple countries with independent border control policies.