New Delhi, June 15: Somali referee Omar Abdulqadir Artan was selected to officiate at the FIFA World Cup 2026. However, he had to withdraw from the tournament after being denied entry into the United States, which was a disappointing turn of events for him. Amid this disappointment, a piece of good news has emerged.
According to reports, the world governing body has decided that Artan will receive his full salary as a match official for the tournament. FIFA’s rationale is to prevent Artan from facing any financial difficulties due to his unexpected withdrawal.
At 34 years old, Artan was one of the 52 referees chosen by FIFA. He was set to officiate during the World Cup finals, which are co-hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States from June 11 to July 19. This would have made him the first Somali referee to take charge of a match in the FIFA World Cup.
Unfortunately, U.S. authorities denied him entry at Miami International Airport. Reports indicate that despite having a valid entry visa, Artan was turned away and subsequently sent back to Istanbul before returning to Somalia.
FIFA had previously stated that the Somali official would not be able to participate in the tournament. In a statement, FIFA confirmed, “Omar Abdulqadir Artan will not be officiating at the FIFA World Cup 2026, as he was not granted entry into the United States. The host government determines who receives a visa and who is allowed entry into their country.”
According to Cisse Aden Abshir, an advisor to Somalia’s Ministry of Youth and Sports, Artan was stopped by immigration officials upon his arrival in Miami, preventing him from entering the country.
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