FIFA to Pay Full World Cup Fee to Somali Referee Omar Artan Despite US Entry Denial

FIFA has confirmed that Somali referee Omar Artan will receive his full World Cup remuneration despite being denied entry into the United States and subsequently missing the tournament he had worked years to reach.

Artan, 34, arrived at Miami International Airport earlier this week with the expectation of joining the officiating team for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Instead, he was detained by US immigration authorities, questioned for nearly 11 hours and ultimately informed that he would not be allowed to enter the country.
 

According to reports, immigration officials rejected his diplomatic passport and single-entry US visa before placing him on a return flight.
 

A US government official later stated that the decision was linked to an alleged "association with suspected members of terror organisations." However, Artan has strongly denied any involvement or knowledge of such groups.
 

Speaking publicly about the ordeal, the Somali referee said he had been questioned extensively regarding alleged links to the militant group Al Shabab.
 

"I had the right papers and everything. I had the right visa," Artan said.

"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."

Following his removal from the United States, FIFA officials assisted Artan during his transit through Istanbul before he boarded a flight back to Somalia's capital, Mogadishu.
 

Despite his inability to participate in the tournament, sources familiar with the matter said FIFA had decided to honour its financial commitment to the official by paying him the full fee he would have earned at the World Cup.

Referees appointed to FIFA tournaments are generally informed of their compensation after the conclusion of the competition, with payments often reflecting their assignments and participation. In Artan's case, FIFA's decision has been widely interpreted as recognition of the circumstances beyond his control and acknowledgment of his contributions to international football.

The setback, however, has not diminished Artan's standing within the sport.

In a gesture of support and confidence, the Somali official has since been invited to officiate the UEFA Super Cup between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa, scheduled to take place in Salzburg, Austria, on 12 August.

The appointment represents another significant milestone in a career that has broken barriers for Somali football.

Artan became a FIFA-listed referee in 2018 and has steadily built a reputation as one of Africa's most respected match officials.

His achievements reached new heights in 2025 when he was named the Confederation of African Football's Men's Referee of the Year, becoming a symbol of inspiration for aspiring officials across Somalia and the continent.

That same year, he made history by becoming the first Somali referee to oversee a major continental final. He took charge of the second leg of the CAF Champions League final, where Egypt's Pyramids FC secured victory over South Africa's Mamelodi Sundowns.

FIFA also selected him to officiate at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Chile, where he handled three matches, including the tournament's third-place playoff.
 

His growing international profile continued with appointments at the Africa Cup of Nations, where he officiated matches in both the 2024 and 2025 editions of the tournament.
 

Returning home to a warm reception from supporters and well-wishers, Artan expressed gratitude to those who stood by him throughout the difficult experience.

He thanked "my people and my country"for their support and vowed that the setback would not define his career.

Rather than dwelling on the disappointment of missing football's biggest stage, Artan has already set his sights on the future.

He remains determined to realise his dream of officiating at the 2030 FIFA World Cup, a goal that now carries even greater significance after one of the most challenging chapters of his professional journey.