Somali Referee Omar Artan to Receive Full World Cup Pay Despite Entry Denial

Somali referee Omar Artan will receive his full World Cup remuneration despite being unable to officiate at the tournament after being denied entry into the United States, according to a person familiar with the matter.

According to the Associated Press, Artan would remain eligible for the same tournament fee he would have earned had he taken part in the competition. The final amount is expected to be determined after the World Cup concludes next month.

Artan, widely regarded as one of Africa's leading match officials, had been selected to referee at the World Cup following a standout year in which he was named Africa's best male referee for 2025.

However, his involvement in the tournament ended before it began after he was refused entry upon arriving at Miami International Airport from Istanbul last week.

According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Artan was deemed “inadmissible due to vetting concerns”.

The 34-year-old had already been issued a visa for travel to the United States, according to the Somalia Embassy in Kenya, which handled the application process.

He had been scheduled to join fellow World Cup referees at a training camp in Miami ahead of the tournament.

FIFA later clarified that it had no role in immigration decisions and noted that the final authority on entry rests with the host nation's government.

As a result, Artan was unable to participate in training activities or officiate any matches during the nearly six-week tournament.

Despite the disappointment, Artan received a warm reception upon his return to Somalia earlier this week. Crowds welcomed him home, and the referee expressed his determination to be part of the next World Cup in 2030, which is set to be staged primarily across Morocco, Portugal and Spain.

Artan's standing within the global game was further underlined by his recent appointment to officiate the UEFA Super Cup in August, one of European football's marquee fixtures.

“Football is made to connect people and UEFA wants to show its respect to Omar and his outstanding officiating skills,” UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin said in a statement.