Just days before the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a major controversy has emerged after a highly respected African referee was reportedly denied entry into the United States despite being selected to officiate at the global tournament. The incident has sparked reactions across the football community and raised questions about travel arrangements for officials participating in one of the world’s biggest sporting events.
The referee at the centre of the controversy is Omar Abdulkadir Artan of Somalia, one of the African match officials appointed by FIFA for the World Cup. Reports indicate that Artan travelled to the United States in preparation for his tournament duties but was refused entry upon arrival and later sent back to Turkey. The exact reason for the decision has not been officially disclosed. The development came as a surprise to many football stakeholders because Artan had already been cleared by FIFA as one of the referees selected for the competition. The Somali official was expected to make history as the first referee from his country to officiate at a FIFA World Cup. reached before the competition begins. official and hope that the matter can be resolved quickly.