Rabat – FIFA will pay Somali referee Omar Artan his full 2026 World Cup tournament fee despite his inability to officiate after being denied entry to the United States.
Artan was among 52 match officials selected by FIFA for the tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. However, US border authorities stopped him after he arrived at Miami International Airport on June 6.
The Trump administration claimed that Artan had links to people suspected of belonging to terrorist groups. No further public details were provided to support the allegation.
The final amount FIFA will pay World Cup referees has not yet been confirmed. Artan is nevertheless expected to receive the same tournament remuneration at the end of the competition, despite not taking part in any matches.
Artan said he travelled with the correct visa, FIFA accreditation, and all documents required for his role at the tournament.
US officials questioned him for more than 11 hours before placing him in a holding cell. He was later sent back to Istanbul, where his journey to the United States had begun, and then returned to Somalia.
The referee received a large public welcome when he arrived home, with crowds gathering to show their support.
Artan had been preparing to become the first Somali referee to officiate at a men’s FIFA World Cup.
The 34-year-old was named the Confederation of African Football’s Men’s Referee of the Year in 2025, following a series of strong performances in African and international competitions.
UEFA later announced that Artan would referee the European Super Cup between Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain and Europa League winners Aston Villa on August 12.
UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin said the appointment was intended to show respect for Artan and recognize his refereeing ability.
The decision gives the Somali official another high-profile opportunity after his World Cup plans ended at the US border.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino described Artan’s case as unfortunate but said FIFA could not control the decisions of governments and border authorities.
He added that FIFA was working on the matter and urged people not to react in a way that could make efforts to find a solution more difficult.
Artan will now miss the tournament, but FIFA’s decision to pay him in full ensures that he will not lose the financial reward linked to his historic selection.
