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| Omar Abdulkadir Artan |
Omar Abdulkadir Artan, recognized as Africa's best referee for 2025, was excluded from the FIFA World Cup refereeing panel after being denied entry by U.S. authorities.
The Somali, who was expected to make history as the first referee from his country to officiate at a World Cup, was turned away at Miami International Airport despite having a valid visa.
FIFA confirmed his exclusion from the tournament's referee list. Artan was in excellent form, having officiated major CAF competitions and the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup.
His exclusion has raised questions about entry procedures for international participants at the World Cup to be held in the United States.
FIFA and CAF expressed their disappointment, while Artan remains positive and focused on future opportunities. His replacement has not yet been named.
The 2026 World Cup is jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.