Source: Africa Publicity
Somali referee, Omar Abdulkadir Artan, who was hoping to make his World Cup debut this year, has been denied visa by the United States, FIFA has confirmed.
Somalia is one of the 39 countries whose citizens the President Trump administration has banned from entering the US.
Artan was named Africa’s top male referee in 2025 and was chosen by the Confederation of African Football to take part in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
“FIFA is not involved in host country immigration processes, including visa adjudications, and has been informed by authorities that Mr. Artan’s status will not be changed at present,” a FIFA spokesperson explained in a statement.
The statement added that “In line with previous FIFA events, a host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and who is admitted into their country.”
