FIFA commits to full payment for African referee denied entry to the US

After 11 hours of questioning by US immigration authorities at Miami International Airport on June 8, referee Omar Artan was informed that he was not permitted to enter the United States. His diplomatic passport and single-entry visa were also rejected.

Referee Omar Artan was questioned about his ties to the Al Shabab militant group. Artan firmly told US authorities that he had no knowledge of the organization. "I have all valid documents. My visa is valid," Artan said.

Somalia is among the countries subject to travel restrictions imposed by President Donald Trump.

After being put on a flight back to Somalia, Artan received support from FIFA. According to BBC Sport, the world football governing body also pledged to pay the Somali referee's fees.

"I am simply a referee pursuing my dream, and the greatest dream of my life is to go to the World Cup," Artan shared.

It remains unclear what the official compensation for referees will be after the 2026 World Cup.

Artan was named the best male referee of 2025 by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). He was subsequently invited to officiate the UEFA Super Cup match between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa in Salzburg, Austria, on August 12.

FIFA has mobilized the largest referee contingent ever for the 2026 World Cup, including 52 main referees and 88 assistant referees. The increase in participating teams from 32 to 48 has also driven the need for an expanded referee pool.

The identity of the referee team for each match is typically announced two to three days before the game.