Somali Referee Omar Artan barred from US in latest World Cup controversy

Omar Artan, who was set to become the first person from Somalia to referee at a World Cup, has been refused entry into the United States and will not feature at the tournament in any capacity.

Artan, who was the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) men’s referee of the year in 2025, told the New York Times he was interrogated by immigration officials for 11 hours at Miami International Airport before having his diplomatic passport and single-entry US visa rejected. He was then put on a flight to Istanbul and arrived back in Somalia the day before the opening match of the tournament.

Although no reason was initially given for Artan’s expulsion from the country, a source from within the US government has said it was due to “association with suspected members of terror organisations”.

Somalia is one of several countries included in a travel ban list that was put in place by Donald Trump in June of last year

Somalia is one of several countries included in a travel ban list that was put in place by Donald Trump in June of last year, and the US president has previously said that the East African nation is “barely a country” where people “just run around killing each other”.

Although the US are sharing hosting duties with Canada and Mexico it is not possible for Artan to fulfil his duties as a referee outside America, as all on-pitch officials have to be based in Florida for training and security purposes. However, despite being unable to take part in the tournament, the 34-year-old Somalian will still be paid his full World Cup fee.

UEFA made the surprise announcement that Artan would be the referee for the UEFA Super Cup

On the same day that the World Cup began, UEFA made the surprise announcement that Artan would be the referee for the UEFA Super Cup on the 12th of August. The Super Cup, which this year will be contested between PSG and Aston Villa, winners of the Champions League and Europa League respectively, is the unofficial season-opener for Europe’s footballing elite and it will be the first time a non-European official has taken charge of the game.

When asked to comment on the situation surrounding Artan in his pre-tournament press
conference, FIFA President Gianni Infantino said: “Of course it is unfortunate as well what happened to the referee from Somalia. But again we don’t control everything, we will try, we will discuss, we will speak, we will see. Maybe sometimes it’s good as well to just, you know, chill, relax.”

Fans from teams like Iraq and Senegal have massively struggled to secure visas that should grant them admission into the US

It is not just Artan who has felt the brunt of the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown either, as fans from teams like Iraq and Senegal have massively struggled to secure visas that should grant them admission into the US. Unsurprisingly, given the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, it is Iran whose preparations have been the most disrupted. Multiple members of their backroom staff have had their visas denied and their allocated tickets for the group stages have also been completely revoked.

Such confusion and disarray have led many to speculate whether it is still FIFA and Infantino who are in charge of this tournament or if they are, at this point, simply subordinate to the wishes of the US government.