Artan was named the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Men’s Referee of the Year in 2025.
By Kehinde Okeowo
Award-winning Somali referee Omar Artan has been denied entry into the United States, where he was expected to officiate matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
According to the BBC on Monday, the Somali official was barred from entering the country at Miami International Airport despite possessing a valid visa, and has since been flown back to Turkey.
Artan’s exclusion comes just days before the start of the tournament. FIFA had named him among the 52 match officials selected for the competition, which is scheduled to begin on June 11 and is jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The development means he will be unable to achieve the historic landmark of becoming the first Somali referee to officiate at football’s biggest event.
ALSO READ: Nigeria’s 20-medal ambition at Glasgow Games looks promising with Amusan, Kanyinsola, others in fray
No official reason has been provided by US immigration authorities for the decision. However, the incident has drawn intense scrutiny because Somalia is one of several countries affected by travel restrictions imposed by the administration of President Donald Trump.
Discussing the decision, Ciise Aden Abshir, a former national team captain and senior advisor to Somalia’s Ministry of Youth and Sports, said: “Omar Artan is among Africa’s most respected referees and deserves the support of the entire football community.”
He added: “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.”
Artan has enjoyed a rapid rise through the ranks of African football officiating in recent years. A FIFA-accredited referee since 2018, he has handled high-profile matches at the Africa Cup of Nations and various other major continental competitions.
His growing reputation was further recognised in 2025 when he was honoured as the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Men’s Referee of the Year.
