Also known as: Omar Abdulkadir Artan · the referee from Somalia
Somali referee denied U.S. entry for 2026 World Cup over terror-link allegations; appointed to UEFA Super Cup after visa rejection.
Verbatim sentences from the source article.
Joy Online
… CAF also confirmed Somali referee Omar Artan will take charge of the second leg of the final, which will take place on May 24 in Rabat, Morocco.
AFCON final referee appointed for CAF Champions League finalUruguay's national team experienced a travel delay from Cancun to Miami on the eve of their World Cup 2026 match against Saudi Arabia due to an airline permitting error. FIFA blamed the airline for paperwork issues preventing the aircraft's clearance to fly, while the Uruguayan FA blamed FIFA for the disruption.
9 hours ago · Joy Online →
Uruguay's national team experienced a travel delay from Cancun to Miami on the eve of their World Cup 2026 match against Saudi Arabia due to an airline permitting error. FIFA blamed the airline for paperwork issues preventing the aircraft's clearance to fly, while the Uruguayan FA blamed FIFA for the disruption.
9 hours ago · Joy Online →
Somali referee Omar Artan was denied entry to the United States to officiate at the World Cup after US authorities cited his alleged "association with suspected members of terror organisations," but FIFA will pay him his full tournament fee despite his inability to participate.
13 hours ago · Joy Online →
Four members of Iran's World Cup delegation have won appeals against US visa rejections, but 11 members of the party will not be allowed to travel to the US. Iran's team is based in Mexico after initially being denied visas for backroom staff members.
14 June 2026 · Joy Online →
Home-based Cote d'Ivoire supporters have been denied visas to travel to the United States for the World Cup, according to the president of the National Committee of Elephants Supporters. The visa denials prevent the supporters group from organising trips for fans to follow their team, which faces Ecuador, Curacao, and Germany in its group matches.
12 June 2026 · The Ghanaian Times →
FIFA President Infantino said the organization cannot override government decisions on visa and immigration matters, addressing a case where a Somali referee was denied U.S. entry despite holding a valid visa. Infantino stressed that FIFA is working behind the scenes on outstanding issues but acknowledged that immigration decisions ultimately rest with national authorities.
12 June 2026 · The Ghanaian Times →
Somali referee Omar Artan, who was refused entry to the US and barred from World Cup duty by American authorities, has been selected by UEFA to officiate the August 12 UEFA Super Cup between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa in Salzburg, Austria.
12 June 2026 · The Ghanaian Times →
Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, barred from the World Cup by US authorities despite holding a valid visa, has been appointed to officiate the UEFA Super Cup between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa on August 12 in Salzburg, following a cooperation agreement between European soccer's governing body and the Confederation of African Football.
12 June 2026 · Joy Online →
Omar Artan, a Somali referee barred from entering the United States for World Cup duty due to visa and vetting concerns, has been appointed by UEFA to officiate the UEFA Super Cup final between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa on August 12 in Salzburg, Austria.
11 June 2026 · Joy Online →
A US official said 34-year-old Somali referee Omar Artan, Africa's referee of the year in 2025, was denied entry at Miami International Airport because of his "association with suspected members of terror organisations." Artan was set to be the first Somali to referee at a World Cup finals but was turned away despite holding a diplomatic passport and a valid US visa; he told the New York Times that border officials questioned him over links to Al Shabab and that he knows nothing about the group.
11 June 2026 · The Chronicle →
Omar Artan, a Somali referee selected for his first World Cup, was denied entry to the US by the Trump administration over alleged links to suspected members of terror organisations. He returned to Mogadishu on Wednesday and called the decision "unfortunate," saying he will attempt to officiate at the next tournament.
11 June 2026 · The Ghanaian Times →
Omar Artan, a 34-year-old Somali referee and Africa's 2025 referee of the year, was denied entry to the United States at Miami International Airport on Monday because of alleged "association with suspected members of terror organisations," according to a Trump administration official. Artan, who held a diplomatic passport and single-entry US visa and was set to become the first Somali to referee at a World Cup finals, was questioned about links to Al Shabab and told border officials he knew nothing about the group.
11 June 2026 · Joy Online →
FIFA President Gianni Infantino told journalists to "chill, relax" about controversies surrounding the 2026 World Cup, including a Somali referee's refusal of entry to the United States, an Iraqi player's questioning at Chicago airport, and Iran's forced base relocation and visa denials. Infantino described the referee's rejection as merely "unfortunate" and defended US President Donald Trump as essential to hosting the tournament.
11 June 2026 · Joy Online →
Somali referee Omar Artan, set to be the first from Somalia to referee at a World Cup finals, was denied entry to the United States at Miami International Airport and dropped from the 2026 World Cup officials list, despite holding what he described as the "right papers" and "right visa." The US immigration authorities provided no reason for the denial, though Somalia is on a travel ban list introduced by the Trump administration.
10 June 2026 · Daily Guide →
Somali referee Omar Artan, set to be the first Somali to referee at a World Cup finals, was denied entry to the United States at Miami International Airport and dropped from the 2026 World Cup officials list after an 11-hour immigration interview, despite holding valid papers and visa. No reason was issued by US immigration authorities, though Somalia is on a travel ban list introduced by President Trump's administration.
10 June 2026 · Daily Guide →
Somali referee Omar Artan was barred from entering the United States at Miami International Airport and dropped from the World Cup 2026 officials list, despite holding valid papers and visa. No reason for the denial was issued by US immigration authorities, though Somalia is on a travel ban list introduced by the Trump administration.
10 June 2026 · The Ghanaian Times →
Somali referee Omar Artan was denied entry to the United States at Miami International Airport and dropped from the World Cup officials list, despite holding valid documents and visa. No reason for his repatriation was issued by US immigration authorities, though Somalia is on a travel ban list; FIFA says Artan will miss the tournament.
10 June 2026 · The Ghanaian Times →
Somali referee Omar Artan says he was denied entry to the United States for the World Cup despite holding valid papers and visa, after an 11-hour immigration interview at Miami International Airport. Artan, who would have been the first Somali to referee at a World Cup finals, was dropped from the officials list; FIFA confirmed he will be unable to officiate at the tournament.
10 June 2026 · Joy Online →
England coach Thomas Tuchel says Bukayo Saka, who suffered an Achilles injury in March, requires careful attention before the World Cup, though the winger is being built back up and was involved in recent training.
10 June 2026 · Joy Online →
Omar Artan, the 2025 CAF men's referee of the year and set to be the first Somali to referee at the World Cup finals, was denied entry to the United States at Miami International Airport. FIFA confirmed he will be unable to officiate at the 2026 World Cup, citing host-country immigration processes as outside FIFA's control; Somalia is among countries on a travel ban list introduced by President Donald Trump's administration.
8 June 2026 · Joy Online →
CAF has appointed Congolese referee Jean-Jacques Ndala to oversee the first leg of the 2026 CAF Champions League final between Morocco's FAR Rabat and South Africa's Mamelodi Sundowns on May 17 in Pretoria. Somali referee Omar Artan will oversee the return leg on May 24 in Rabat.
5 May 2026 · Daily Guide →
CAF has appointed Jean-Jacques Ndala, a Congolese referee who faced criticism over his handling of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final, to officiate the first leg of the 2026 CAF Champions League final between FAR Rabat and Mamelodi Sundowns on May 17 in Pretoria. Somali referee Omar Artan will oversee the second leg on May 24 in Rabat.
4 May 2026 · Joy Online →