The reason FIFA have axed World Cup referee just days before first match | Football | Sport

Somalia’s Omar Artan has been dropped from the list of World Cup referees by FIFA just days before the tournament gets underway – but why?

• Denied US visa: Top Somali referee Artan was officially dropped from the 2026 World Cup list after being denied entry into the United States by Customs and Border Protection officers at Miami International Airport.

• ‘Concerns’: The US Department of Homeland Security confirmed Artan’s removal, stating that after undergoing an additional inspection upon arrival, he was officially determined to be “inadmissible due to vetting concerns,” though specific details were not provided.

• Artan’s reaction: Speaking to Reuters, the official said: “I would like to thank Fifa and CAF for all their support and I promise to keep my refereeing levels up as I concentrate on the future. I want to thank the football family for their messages and wish my colleagues all the best success during the World Cup and I look forward to joining them again in future competitions.”

• Geopolitical travel ban: While official details remain private, Somalia is among several nations on a strict travel ban list maintained by the US administration, which significantly impacts entry and immigration processes for Somali nationals.

• Milestone blocked: Artan, who was named Africa’s 2025 Referee of the Year by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), was historically set to become the first-ever Somali national to officiate matches at a men’s World Cup finals.

• FIFA’s decision: FIFA confirmed Artan will miss the tournament entirely, clarifying that the world governing body cannot intervene because host governments maintain absolute authority over immigration, visa adjudications, and border entry decisions.

• FIFA’s statement: They said: “FIFA is not involved in host country immigration processes, including visa adjudications, and has been informed by authorities that Mr Artan’s status will not be changed at present. In line with previous FIFA events, a host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and who is admitted into their country.”

• What the White House said: Speaking to BBC World Service, Andrew Giuliani, who leads the White House Task Force on the World Cup, said: “While I can’t go into the derog [derogatory information] on that I can tell you it was the right decision by customs and border patrol and I support that decision.”

• What next? The Somali Football Federation (SFF) has contacted FIFA seeking clarification. A Somali embassy official in Nairobi said to the BBC that Artan’s diplomatic passport had been issued specifically to avoid any problems after earlier visa troubles.