Referee Omar Artan misses out on a big payday after being turned away from entering the United States for the World Cup.
The referee who was turned away from entering the United States now faces missing out on a record payday at the World Cup.
Omar Artan was listed by FIFA as an official and was set to become the first Somali referee at the tournament. As one of the top referees in African football, he had obtained a diplomatic passport through the Somali embassy, and many hoped his visa problems were solved.
However, after traveling from Nairobi to Istanbul, then Miami, he was denied entry to the US and can’t take part in the World Cup matches.
A FIFA spokesperson told SPORTbible: “We confirm that Omar Abdulkadir Artan will not be able to train or officiate at the FIFA World Cup 2026 because he was denied entry to the United States. FIFA is not involved in visa decisions, and we have been told his status won’t change right now. Ultimately, the host country decides who gets a visa and who is allowed in.”
No official reason was given for Artan’s refusal, but US Customs and Border Protection said he was “inadmissible due to vetting concerns” after a routine check. Sent back to Istanbul, Artan misses his chance to make history and also misses out on a big paycheck.
According to Martyn Ziegler from The Times, referees at this 48-team World Cup could earn up to £75,000 for officiating. The 52 referees selected by FIFA get a basic salary for up to six weeks of work. Plus, pay has doubled since the 2014 World Cup, and referees for the later matches earn extra.
Premier League referees Anthony Taylor and Michael Oliver could each earn over £325,000, though they can’t referee games involving England, and the final match has the biggest bonus.
Artan’s situation made news worldwide. Despite the disappointment, he stayed positive. To Reuters, he said, “Even with these challenges, I’m in good spirits and focused on what’s ahead for my refereeing career. I thank FIFA and CAF for their support, and I’ll keep working hard. I also appreciate the kind messages from the football community and wish my colleagues success at the World Cup. I look forward to joining them in future tournaments.”
Ciise Aden Abshir, a senior adviser at Somalia’s Ministry of Youth and Sports, criticized the decision, saying it hurts “football’s commitment to fairness, merit, and the spirit of fair play.” Meanwhile, Andrew Giuliani, who leads the White House Task Force on the World Cup, supported the decision, calling it “the right one by customs and border patrol.”