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🇫🇷 France /Sports

Somali World Cup referee denied entry to US

From Le Figaro · () French

Translated from French, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan was denied entry into the United States for the 2026 World Cup.
  • Artan was set to become the first Somali to officiate in a World Cup, holding a FIFA status since 2018.
  • The reasons for his denied entry are currently unknown, despite possessing a valid visa.

Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan has been denied entry into the United States, preventing him from officiating at the upcoming 2026 World Cup. Artan, who was scheduled to be the first Somali referee in the tournament's history, arrived in the U.S. but was turned away at the border. The specific reasons for his exclusion remain unclear at this time.

Artan, 34, holds FIFA status since 2018 and has officiated in the Somali league. He was recognized as the best referee of the year by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in 2025. Ciise Aden Abshir, a senior advisor to the Somali Ministry of Youth and Sports, confirmed that Artan possessed a valid visa. Abshir expressed disappointment, stating that preventing Artan from officiating not only harms him personally but also undermines football's commitment to fairness and merit.

Omar Abdulkadir Artan is among the most respected referees in Africa. Denying him entry to the United States and preventing him from officiating... is detrimental not only to him but also undermines football's commitment to equity, merit, and the spirit of fair play.

— Ciise Aden AbshirCiise Aden Abshir, a senior advisor to the Somali Ministry of Youth and Sports, expressing dismay over the denied entry of referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan.

"Omar Abdulkadir Artan is among the most respected referees in Africa," Abshir said. "Denying him entry to the United States and preventing him from officiating... is detrimental not only to him but also undermines football's commitment to equity, merit, and the spirit of fair play." Abshir urged the football community to support Artan during this difficult period. Somalia is among several countries whose citizens have faced travel restrictions to the U.S. under the Trump administration.

The football community should support him during this difficult time.

— Ciise Aden AbshirCiise Aden Abshir calling for support for the Somali referee.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Le Figaro in French. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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