The 2026 World Cup is already rocked by controversy. FIFA confirmed on Monday that Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan will neither take part in preparatory seminars nor officiate during the tournament after being denied entry into the United States.
In a statement, the global governing body reiterated that it has no authority over the immigration decisions of host countries. “FIFA does not get involved in the immigration procedures of organizing countries, including the granting of visas,” the statement read, adding that it had been informed the Somali official’s situation is not expected to change in the near future.
According to U.S. authorities, the referee was deemed “inadmissible” after an extensive screening upon his arrival in Miami, due to traveler verification procedures. No further details have been released publicly.
This decision has caused confusion in Somalia. The adviser to Somalia’s Ministry of Youth and Sports, Ciise Aden Abshir, stated that Artan did, in fact, possess a valid visa and a diplomatic passport at the time of his travel to the United States.
The situation is all the more significant as Omar Artan was set to become the first Somali referee to officiate at a men’s World Cup. A leading figure among African referees, he was named the 2025 African Referee of the Year by the Confederation of African Football and is considered one of the continent’s most respected officials.
FIFA has announced that Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, turned away upon entering the United States, will not officiate at the World Cup. The governing body is thus backing the political decision of one of the three host countries.➡️ pic.twitter.com/4hZskBlc9B
— L’Équipe (@lequipe) June 8, 2026
Just days before the World Cup kicks off in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, this incident reignites the debate over migration constraints that could affect some participants in the competition.
Piala Dunia 2026
Piala Dunia FIFA 2026 akan menjadi edisi paling revolusioner dalam sejarah sepak bola dunia. Turnamen ini untuk pertama kalinya akan diselenggarakan di tiga negara sekaligus, yaitu Amerika Serikat, Kanada, dan Meksiko. Selain itu, jumlah peserta juga meningkat dari 32 menjadi 48 tim, membuka peluang lebih besar bagi negara-negara dari berbagai konfederasi untuk tampil di panggung global. Format baru ini akan menghadirkan lebih banyak pertandingan, atmosfer kompetisi yang lebih luas, serta jangkauan penonton yang semakin besar di seluruh dunia.
Dengan skala yang jauh lebih besar, FIFA menargetkan turnamen ini sebagai ajang yang tidak hanya kompetitif tetapi juga spektakuler dari sisi teknologi dan pengalaman penonton. Stadion-stadion modern di berbagai kota tuan rumah telah dipersiapkan untuk menghadirkan pertandingan berkelas dunia, didukung oleh inovasi seperti peningkatan sistem VAR dan pengalaman digital bagi fans. diprediksi akan menjadi tonggak baru dalam evolusi sepak bola internasional, memperkuat popularitas olahraga ini sekaligus menciptakan momen-momen bersejarah yang akan dikenang dalam waktu lama.
