Somalia referee Artan says US entry denial was fate

Somalia referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan has described his exclusion from the 2026 FIFA World Cup as “fate” after being denied entry into the United States despite being selected to officiate at the tournament.

Artan returned to Somalia on Wednesday and addressed reporters in Mogadishu, days after US authorities barred him from entering the country, ending his hopes of becoming the first Somali referee to work at a World Cup finals.

The 2025 African Referee of the Year was scheduled to join FIFA’s team of match officials for the tournament, which begins on Thursday across the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Referee accepts decision

Speaking publicly for the first time since the incident, Artan said he had accepted the outcome and thanked FIFA for its support.

“What happened has happened and it was fate. I am grateful for the support FIFA gave me,” he said.

The referee also urged young Somalis not to lose confidence in their country despite the disappointment.

“Somalia is ours, whether things are good or bad. I want to tell our youth not to lose hope in our country.

“I am now in my country, and there is no other place I want to be.”

Artan had arrived in Miami from Istanbul before being stopped by US Customs and Border Protection officials and refused entry.

Security concerns cited

The administration of US President Donald Trump said Artan was denied entry because of alleged links to “suspected members of terror organisations.”

American authorities later stated that immigration officials considered the Somali national inadmissible following security vetting procedures.

Neither FIFA nor Somali authorities have publicly challenged the specific allegations.

A FIFA spokesperson confirmed Artan would no longer be eligible to participate in the tournament because all selected officials are required to attend training and preparation camps in the United States.

Somalia’s government said it made efforts to engage both FIFA and US authorities in an attempt to resolve the issue but was unsuccessful.

The case has drawn significant attention because Artan was set to become the first Somalia referee to officiate at football’s biggest tournament.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will run from June 11 to July 19 and feature 48 national teams competing across 16 venues in the United States, Canada and Mexico.