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Somali referee Omar Artan, the first from his country to be appointed to a World Cup finals, has been denied entry to the United States and will miss the 2026 tournament. Artan, the 2025 CAF men’s referee of the year, was stopped at Miami International Airport and is currently in Turkey. Somalia is on a US travel ban list.
FIFA confirmed Artan cannot officiate, as all referees must train and stay in Florida. Artan said he remains positive and thanked FIFA and CAF for their support.
Key Points:
A qualified African referee is excluded solely due to his nationality, not his competence.
The decision undermines the principle of merit‑based selection for global sporting events.
Fans and pundits, including Ian Wright, have criticised the tournament’s “chaotic” preparations.
Other nations, including Iran, have also faced visa and ticket allocation issues.
The incident raises questions about the US as a fair host for a global tournament.
Artan will not officiate; he wishes his colleagues well and looks forward to future competitions.
Sources: BBC Sport
