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Omar Artan reveals FIFA’s support behind the scenes after World Cup decision

Omar Abdulkadir Artan has returned home to Mogadishu after being denied entry to the United States, ending his chance to officiate at the 2026 World Cup.

The Somali official had been due to make history at the tournament after being selected among the referees for the finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Artan was denied entry to the United States at Miami International Airport, with FIFA later confirming he would be unable to train or officiate at the competition.

That is a bitter outcome for a referee who was set to become the first Somali to referee at the World Cup finals and who was named the 2025 CAF men’s referee of the year.

Yet Artan’s message after arriving back in Somalia was striking because it did not criticise FIFA. Instead, he made it clear that he felt supported by the game’s governing body and CAF during a difficult episode.

Omar Artan says FIFA and CAF never left him alone

Photo by Abuukar Mohamed Muhidin/Anadolu via Getty Images

In a message after arriving home in Mogadishu, Artan thanked Somalia’s leaders, the country’s sports family and the Somali people for their support.

He also thanked the government, the Minister of Youth and Sports and the President of the Somali Football Federation for what he described as support behind the scenes.

Artan then made the clearest point about FIFA and CAF, saying: I want to express my gratitude to the Somali people for their unwavering support, encouragement and solidarity.

I also appreciate the government, the Minister of Youth and Sports, and the President of the Somali Football Federation for their support behind the scenes. “My thanks also go to FIFA and CAF for standing by me throughout this journey. They never left me alone.”

That line matters because it changes the shape of the story. This is not a simple case of a referee blaming football authorities after losing a World Cup place.

Artan instead separated FIFA and CAF’s support from the final immigration outcome, which FIFA has said sat outside its control.

He also gave a clear message about what comes next, promising that he will be at the next FIFA World Cup in 2030.

Artan said he would continue to work hard, carry the Somali flag with pride and never give up. That was the most decisive part of his response.

Why FIFA support could not save Omar Artan’s World Cup place

FIFA confirmed that Artan will be unable to train and officiate at the 2026 World Cup after he was denied entry into the United States.

The governing body said it is not involved in host country immigration processes, including visa adjudications, and had been informed by authorities that Artan’s status would not be changed at present.

FIFA also said that, in line with previous events, a host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and who is admitted into the country.

That distinction is central to the case. Artan may have felt supported by FIFA and CAF, but FIFA could not overrule the host country’s entry decision.

The practical structure of the tournament made the situation even more final. FIFA’s referees’ chief Pierluigi Collina has created a Miami training hub for 52 referees and 88 assistant referees.

All on-pitch officials must stay at that Florida base for training, preparation and security. That meant Artan could not simply stay outside the United States and referee matches in Canada or Mexico.

A senior adviser to Somalia’s Ministry of Youth and Sports said Artan had travelled with valid documents, while a Somali embassy official in Nairobi said his diplomatic passport had been issued specifically to ease his travel after earlier visa difficulties.

No reason for Artan’s repatriation had been issued by US immigration authorities in the BBC report, although Somalia is among several countries on a travel ban list introduced by President Donald Trump’s administration.

That leaves a hard sporting outcome from an immigration decision. Artan’s World Cup place is gone for 2026, but his public message was controlled, grateful and forward-looking.

He did not turn his return to Mogadishu into an attack on FIFA. He thanked them, thanked Somalia and pointed directly towards 2030.