By Bonface Mulyungi

A Somali referee, who was set to become the first in history to officiate at a FIFA World Cup finals during the 2026 FIFA North and Central America World Cup, was ultimately excluded from the tournament after being denied entry to the United States.

The UK’s ‘BBC’ reported on the 9th (local time), “Somalian referee Omar Abdulqadir Artan was excluded from the World Cup referee list after being denied entry to the United States.”

Artan is the recipient of the 2025 Confederation of African Football (CAF) Men’s Referee of the Year Award. As the first Somali national to be named to a World Cup finals officiating team, he garnered significant attention.

He recently attempted to enter the U.S. through Miami International Airport but was denied entry by U.S. authorities. He is currently reported to be staying in Turkey.

U.S. immigration authorities have not disclosed the official reason for the entry denial. However, the BBC explained that Somalia was among the countries included in the entry restriction list implemented by the Donald Trump administration.

FIFA also officially confirmed Artan’s absence from the World Cup. In a statement, FIFA said, “Due to Omar Abdulqadir Artan’s denial of entry to the United States, he will be unable to perform training and match operations at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.”

It added, “FIFA does not interfere in the host country’s immigration and visa screening procedures. We have been informed by the relevant authorities that Artan’s entry status will not change. As with previous FIFA tournaments, visa issuance and entry approvals ultimately fall under the host country’s government authority.”

A senior advisor to Somalia’s Ministry of Youth and Sports also confirmed the entry denial to the BBC. He claimed Artan had all valid travel documents.

A Somali embassy official in Nairobi, Kenya, told the BBC, “Artan had even been issued a diplomatic passport to facilitate travel for resolving past visa issues.”

The Somali Football Federation (SFF) reportedly sent an official inquiry to FIFA requesting an urgent explanation.

Andrew Giuliani, who leads the White House World Cup task force, told BBC World Service, “I cannot disclose specific details,” but added, “I believe the decision by the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) was correct and I support it.”

Artan was one of the 52 referees announced by FIFA for the North and Central America World Cup. Having obtained his FIFA international referee qualification in 2018, he has consistently officiated at major international tournaments, including the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

The 2026 North and Central America World Cup will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico from the 11th to July 19th. Artan, who dreamed of making his historic World Cup debut, faced the unfortunate situation of being excluded from the tournament without even stepping onto the pitch.