The 2026 FIFA World Cup hasn't even kicked off yet and it's already dealing with one of the more unsettling stories to come out of the buildup. Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan was set to make history as the first official from Somalia to work a World Cup.
That didn't happen, and the circumstances behind it have sparked debate well beyond the football world. Artan was denied entry into the United States after arriving at Miami International Airport on June 6, his 34th birthday, to attend a mandatory FIFA training seminar for World Cup match officials.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection reportedly held him for 11 hours before turning him away and putting him on a return flight to Istanbul. He had valid travel documents, a diplomatic passport secured through the Somali Embassy in Nairobi and full FIFA backing.
A Trump administration official later said authorities found "derogatory information" during inspection and alleged Artan had connections to suspected members of terror organizations. Artan, for his part, reportedly said no concrete evidence was presented and suggested his nationality was a driving factor in the decision.
UEFA Hands Artan Super Cup Assignment
While his World Cup future remains in limbo, European football's governing body moved in a different direction entirely.
UEFA officially named Artan as the referee for the UEFA Super Cup between UEFA Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain and UEFA Europa League champions Aston Villa in Salzburg.
"We're pleased to share that Somali referee Omar Artan will officiate the highly anticipated match between PSG and Aston Villa in Salzburg," UEFA said in its announcement.
Artan has built a strong reputation over the years, earning his FIFA referee status in 2018 and steadily working his way up through international football. The Mogadishu native became one of the most respected officials on the African continent and in 2025 the Confederation of African Football named him Africa's Best Male Referee of the Year.
The Super Cup appointment puts him on one of the biggest stages in club football, even as questions around his World Cup involvement stay unanswered.
Artan had received his official World Cup call-up and went through considerable effort to make the trip work, including obtaining multiple three-month U.S. entry visas alongside the diplomatic passport.
