First-Ever FIFA World Cup Referee From Somalia Turned Away from US
Omar Abdulkadir Artan, the only representative from Sub-Saharan Africa and one of the three centre referees selected from Africa to officiate at the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup, has been refused entry into the United States of America.
Artan, a FIFA-listed referee in 2018, was sent back to Turkey after the U.S. Authorities denied him entry upon his arrival.
FIFA and US immigration authorities have not released a comprehensive statement about the incident.
Artan was voted the best African referee of 2025 by the Confederation of African Football and officiated the CAF Champions League final at the Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, where Mamelodi Sundowns won the title.
He struggled to obtain a visa but received help from the Somali embassy in Nairobi, which facilitated the issuance of his diplomatic passport.
Artan’s travel itinerary has been Kenya, Turkey, and Miami, after FIFA confirmed last week that his visa situation had been fully resolved and that he would now be available to officiate at the FIFA World Cup.
Many in the football community are still waiting for more information because it’s unclear whether the issue is related to paperwork, travel needs, administrative processes, or other factors.
Artan’s availability for World Cup duties is called into question by the unexpected setback, but officials are anticipated to provide more details in the coming days.
