By Angu Lesley
Football writer kick442.com – Cameroon
Just days before the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, one of African football’s most inspiring success stories has been thrown into uncertainty.
Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, who was selected by FIFA to officiate at the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico, has reportedly been denied entry into the United States despite holding a valid visa, raising questions about whether he will be able to take part in football’s biggest event.
Neither FIFA, U.S. authorities nor the Somali Football Federation had publicly commented on the reports as of Monday afternoon, leaving the situation surrounded by uncertainty.
The 34-year-old was set to make history as the first Somali referee ever selected for a FIFA World Cup. His appointment was celebrated across Somalia and the wider East African region as a landmark achievement for a nation that has spent decades rebuilding its football infrastructure.
Artan’s rise through the game has been remarkable. After joining FIFA’s international list of referees in 2018, he became the first Somali official to referee at the Africa Cup of Nations and later took charge of major CAF competitions, earning recognition as one of Africa’s leading match officials.
FIFA included Artan among the African referees selected for the 2026 World Cup, alongside some of the continent’s most experienced officials. His appointment represented not only a personal milestone but also a symbol of Somalia’s growing presence on the global football stage.
Reports emerging on Monday claimed that Artan was turned back upon arrival in the United States and returned to Turkey. The claims have yet to be independently verified by FIFA or immigration authorities.
The case comes amid wider scrutiny of travel procedures surrounding the World Cup. Last week, Iraq striker Aymen Hussein was reportedly detained and questioned for several hours upon arriving in Chicago before eventually being allowed to enter the country, while another member of Iraq’s delegation was denied entry.
For Somalia, the prospect of Artan missing the tournament would be a significant blow. His journey from domestic football in Mogadishu to the world’s biggest sporting event has become a source of national pride and inspiration for a new generation of referees across the Horn of Africa.
With the World Cup set to begin this week, attention now turns to FIFA and U.S. authorities for clarification on whether one of Africa’s most respected officials will be able to take his place on football’s grandest stage.
Should the reports prove accurate, Artan’s absence would mark one of the most unfortunate stories ahead of the tournament, denying both the referee and Somalia a historic moment on football’s biggest stage.
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