Omar Abdulkadir Artan has been excluded from the officiating team for the 2026 FIFA World Cup following his denial of entry into the United States, as confirmed by FIFA in an official statement.
The Somali referee was chosen as one of the match officials for the tournament but will now be absent after U.S. authorities declined his entry. This decision eliminates his ability to participate in any pre-tournament activities or officiate matches during the World Cup.
FIFA’s statement highlighted that Artan’s inability to train and officiate is due to the visa denial, emphasizing, “In line with previous FIFA events, a host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and who is admitted into their country.”
“FIFA can confirm that match official Omar Abdulkadir Artan will be unable to train and officiate at the FIFA World Cup 2026 after he was denied entry into the United States,” read a statement.