Somali referee removed from 2026 World Cup after US entry denial
Nexus Europa Newsroom
Posted Jun 9, 2026, 12:30 AM UTC · In the digest of 2026-06-09-0030
Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan has been removed from officiating at the 2026 World Cup after being denied entry into the United States, FIFA confirmed on Monday.
The international football federation, FIFA, confirmed on Monday, June 8, that Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan will not officiate at the upcoming 2026 World Cup. This decision follows Artan's denial of entry into the United States on Saturday. FIFA stated that Artan "will not be able to train or officiate at the 2026 World Cup after being denied entry into the United States." The organization clarified that it does not intervene in national immigration matters. The World Cup is scheduled to commence on Thursday.
Sources: Le Monde — International