FIFA will pay Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan his full tournament fee despite his exclusion from the 2026 FIFA World Cup after U.S. authorities denied him entry.
Artan, the first Somali referee selected to officiate at a FIFA World Cup, will receive the same compensation as other tournament officials, according to multiple reports.
Somali referee denied entry to United States
Artan, 34, arrived at Miami International Airport on Monday to join World Cup preparations.
However, U.S. immigration authorities questioned him for 11 hours before informing him that he would not be allowed to enter the country.
Officials rejected his diplomatic passport and single-entry U.S. visa despite his FIFA appointment.
Following the decision, Artan traveled to Türkiye, where FIFA officials assisted him before he returned to Mogadishu.
FIFA confirms full tournament compensation
Although Artan will not participate in the tournament, FIFA has reportedly committed to paying his full World Cup fee.
Referees selected for the World Cup typically receive their compensation after the competition concludes. As a result, officials do not know the exact amount beforehand.
The decision ensures that Artan will receive the same financial benefits despite missing the event.
Questions over entry decision
A U.S. government official said Artan was denied entry because of an alleged association with suspected members of terrorist organizations.
Artan said border officials questioned him about alleged links to the militant group Al-Shabaab.
However, he denied any knowledge of the organization.
“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,” he added.
Historic appointment for Somalia
Artan’s selection marked a milestone for Somali football.
He became the first Somali referee chosen to officiate at the FIFA World Cup, representing a significant achievement for the country’s sporting community.
While his tournament participation ended before it began, his appointment remains a landmark moment for Somalia’s presence on the global football stage.
