FIFA to pay Somali ref Omar Artan full fee after US blocks World Cup dream

FIFA will pay Somali referee Omar Artan his full World Cup tournament fee despite being denied entry into the United States to officiate at the competition.

Artan, who was selected as one of the referees for the World Cup, was stopped at Miami International Airport after arriving in the US for the tournament.

The 34-year-old was reportedly questioned for about 11 hours by immigration officials before being told he would not be allowed into the country.

His diplomatic passport and single-entry US visa were rejected by authorities, ending what would have been a historic World Cup appearance for the Somali official.

A US government official claimed Artan was denied entry over alleged “association with suspected members of terror organisations.”

Artan, however, denied any links to terror groups, saying he told US border officials that he knew nothing about Al Shabab, the Somali militant group he was reportedly questioned about.

“I had the right papers and everything. I had the right visa,” Artan said.

“I’m just simply a referee who’s trying to live his dream, the biggest dream of my life, to come to the World Cup.”

After being refused entry, Artan was put on a plane to Turkey, where he received assistance from FIFA officials in Istanbul before returning to Mogadishu, Somalia.

Although he will no longer officiate at the World Cup, FIFA has decided to pay him his full tournament fee.

The exact amount referees will receive for the tournament is usually not confirmed until after the competition.

Artan, who was named the 2025 CAF Men’s Referee of the Year, had been set to become the first Somali referee to officiate at a FIFA World Cup.

He was given a hero’s welcome on his return to Somalia and thanked his countrymen for standing by him.

The Somali official has also vowed not to give up on his dream, saying he hopes to officiate at the 2030 World Cup.

Despite the World Cup setback, Artan has received another major appointment after being invited to officiate the UEFA Super Cup between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa in Salzburg, Austria, on August 12.

Artan has been a FIFA referee since 2018 and enjoyed a breakthrough year in 2025, becoming the first Somali to take charge of a continental final.

He officiated the second leg of the CAF Champions League final between Pyramids FC and Mamelodi Sundowns in June 2025.

He also handled matches at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile and officiated at the Africa Cup of Nations.