FIFA will pay Somali referee Omar Artan his full officiating fee for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, despite his inability to participate after being denied entry into the United States.
The 34-year-old had travelled to the United States to officiate at the World Cup after being appointed by FIFA but reports suggest that Artan was stopped by U.S. immigration officials at Miami International Airport and interrogated for about 11 hours before being refused entry.
A U.S. government official reportedly cited an alleged “association with suspected members of terror organisations” as the reason for denying him entry. Artan, however, rejected the allegation and insisted he had no knowledge of the claims.
“I had the right papers and everything. I had the right visa,” Artan told BBC.
I’m just simply a referee who’s trying to live his dream, the biggest dream of my life, to come to the World Cup.
Even though he will not officiate at the tournament, according to BBC, FIFA has committed to paying him the full salary he would have earned at the competition.
Artan rose to prominence in African football in 2025 after being named CAF Men’s Referee of the Year by Confederation of African Football.
He also made history as the first Somali referee to officiate a major continental club final, handling the second leg of the CAF Champions League Final between Pyramids FC and Mamelodi Sundowns in 2025.