FIFA official says visa rejection ended his dream of officiating at the 2026 tournament.
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Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan has expressed disappointment after being denied entry into the United States ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026.
Artan said he had the required documents and visa, but was stopped after an extended immigration process. He described undergoing an 11-hour interview before being denied entry on June 8.
“I am very, very disappointed. I’m just simply a referee who’s trying to live his dream,” he said, adding that officiating at the World Cup was the biggest opportunity of his career.
He had been selected as one of 52 referees for the tournament, which begins on June 11.
In a statement, FIFA confirmed that Artan would not be able to participate in the tournament after being refused entry, adding that it does not intervene in immigration decisions of host countries.
Artan said he believes the decision may be linked to broader issues affecting applicants from his country, though no official reason has been confirmed.
His exclusion marks a setback in what would have been a historic World Cup appearance for the Somali official.
