FIFA Guarantees Full Payment for Somali Referee Omar Artan After US Visa Denial
Somali referee Omar Artan will receive his full FIFA tournament fee despite being denied entry into the United States for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The 34‑year‑old official was detained for 11 hours at a US border point, where agents questioned him about alleged links to the Somali militant group Al Shabab before informing him that his diplomatic passport and single‑entry visa were not accepted.
Artan rejected the allegations, insisting he had the correct documents and simply wanted to fulfil his dream of officiating at football’s biggest stage.
After being placed on a return flight to Turkey, he received assistance from FIFA representatives in Istanbul before flying back to Mogadishu.
The setback follows a rapid rise in African refereeing circles. In 2025 Artan was named Confederation of African Football’s men’s referee of the year and became the first Somali to take charge of a continental final, overseeing the second leg of the Pyramids FC versus Mamelodi Sundowns CAF Champions League clash.
He also officiated three matches at the FIFA Under‑20 World Cup in Chile, worked at the Africa Cup of Nations, and has been appointed to referee the UEFA Super Cup between Paris Saint‑Germain and Aston Villa in Salzburg on 12 August.
Despite the disappointment, Artan says he remains determined to realise his ambition of officiating at the 2030 World Cup.
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