FIFA WC 2026: Referee Omar Artan denied entry into the US
Three days before the start of the 2026 World Cup, an administrative imbroglio is shaking up the refereeing body. Somalia’s Omar Abdulkadir Artan, a FIFA nominee and CAF’s top referee of the year, was expelled on his arrival in the US.
Philemon MBALE · Author profile ·
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This edition of the World Cup has not yet started, but the controversies follow one another. The latest one is the one that strikes African officials as they approach the world tournament. Omar Abdulkadir Artan, a 34-year-old international referee, was denied entry into the US by customs when he landed at Miami airport.
Immediately re-embarked on a plane bound for Istanbul, the Somali official finds himself deprived of what was supposed to be his first final phase of the World Cup. For now, the US customs authorities have not provided any official justification for this rejection, while FIFA remains silent in the face of this snub, even though it has selected the referee so that he can officiate during the World Cup.
Accreditations and visas, yet in order
There is a total lack of understanding within the governing bodies, especially since the referee had all the accreditations and documents required by FIFA. Due to the geopolitical situation in Mogadishu, Omar Artan had to lead a long diplomatic marathon in Nairobi to secure his visa, even traveling with a diplomatic passport issued by his government.
This incident serves to revive criticism of the strict policy on access to the territory of the co-organising country, even though FIFA has not yet communicated on the steps taken or on its possible replacement.