Somali referee Omar Artan will receive a full fee from FIFA despite being barred from entering the United States for the FIFA World Cup 2026.
Artan was questioned for 11 hours by US immigration authorities at Miami International Airport on Monday before being sent back after his diplomatic passport and visa were rejected.
Following the incident, Artan confirmed that he had been interrogated by border officials over his alleged links to a Somali militant group.
“I had the right papers and everything. I had the right visa,” said Artan.
“I’m just simply a referee who’s trying to live his dream, the biggest dream of my life, to come to the World Cup.”
After being put on a flight to Turkey, Artan received assistance from FIFA in Istanbul before heading back to Somalia.
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According to reports, FIFA will honor the full payment due to Artan despite his inability to participate in the tournament.
For the unversed, Omar Artan was named the 2025 Confederation of African Football (Caf) Men’s Referee of the Year and has since been invited to officiate the UEFA Super Cup between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Aston Villa in Salzburg, Austria, on 12 August.
The 34-year-old, who received a hero’s welcome at home has vowed to officiate at the 2030 World Cup.
Artan enjoyed a memorable 2025, becoming the first Somali referee to take charge of a continental final.
In June 2025, he officiated the second leg of Pyramids FC’s African Champions League final victory over Mamelodi Sundowns.
In June 2025, he officiated the second leg of Pyramids FC’s CAF Champions League final victory over Mamelodi Sundowns.
FIFA also appointed Artan to the U-20 World Cup in Chile, where he took charge of three matches, including the third-place play-off.
Latre that year, he refereed two group games at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), having also officiated at the tournament in 2024.
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