Nairobi (Kenya), 8 june 2026 – A major diplomatic and sports incident has emerged on the sidelines of the football World Cup preparations. Somali international referee Omar Artan, officially appointed by Fifa to officiate during the tournament, was refused access to the United States, one of the host countries.
Us customs authorities immediately rejected the official’s entry request, despite his official accreditation issued by football’s world governing body.
Diplomatic passport not enough
This decision follows a long and complex administrative process for the Somali refereeing body. Facing initial difficulties obtaining a standard visa, the Somali embassy in Nairobi had supported his efforts by issuing a diplomatic passport. This guarantee from the Somali state, however, did not sway the position of the us immigration services, which maintain extremely strict admission criteria for nationals of the Horn of Africa.
For the moment, neither the Somali federation nor the American consular authorities have provided an official justification for the rejection.
A harsh blow for the 2025 best African referee
This administrative blockage hits one of the major figures of continental refereeing. Omar Artan is coming off an exceptional season, notably marked by officiating the second leg of the Caf Champions League final between Pyramids FC and Mamelodi Sundowns. His performances earned him the title of best African referee of the year 2025 by the Confederation of African Football (Caf).
This forced sidelining of a Fifa-accredited official reignites debate about guarantees of free movement for athletes and officials during major sports events on American soil, as the World Cup is precisely meant to bring the world’s nations together there.
