Somali referee Omar Artan travelled to the United States expecting to work at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Instead, he was stopped at the airport, questioned for 11 hours and sent home. Despite missing the tournament, the 34-year-old will still receive his full World Cup compensation, according to the BBC.
Artan arrived at Miami International Airport on Monday to officiate at the World Cup. He said US immigration officials refused to let him enter the country after questioning him about possible links to the Somali militant group Al Shabab.
US authorities told Artan he was being denied entry because of an alleged “association with suspected members of terrorist organizations”.
“They asked me about Al Shabab, but I told them I know nothing about the organisation,” Artan said.
The referee said officials also rejected his diplomatic passport and his single-entry US visa.
After the decision, Artan was put on a flight to Türkiye. FIFA officials helped him in Istanbul before he returned to Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu.
Although he missed the World Cup, Artan’s career continues to move forward. He has been chosen to referee the UEFA Super Cup between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa in Salzburg, Austria, on 12 August.
Artan is one of Africa’s most respected referees. In 2025, he was named the Confederation of African Football’s Men’s Referee of the Year.
He also made history as the first Somali referee to take charge of a continental club final when he officiated the second leg of Pyramids FC’s African Champions League final win over Mamelodi Sundowns.
Artan has also worked at the last two Africa Cup of Nations tournaments and officiated three matches at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Chile, including the third-place match.
