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2026 FIFA World Cup 2026 FIFA World Cup controversies Several members from Iran , Iraq , and Somalia , along with international sports delegations including referee Omar Abdulkadir
Confirmed
“Omar Artan is among Africa’s most respected referees and deserves the support of the entire football community,” said Ciise Aden Abshir, a senior adviser to Somalia’s Ministry of Youth and Sports and a former national team captain, in a statement first shared with Agence France-Presse.
Fifa confirmed that Omar Artan “will be unable to train and officiate at the Fifa World Cup 2026” in a statement issued to media on Monday. Somalia is one of several countries currently under a broad travel ban imposed by the Trump administration and while the reasons behind any decision to deny Artan entry to the US have not been made clear, representatives of the Somali government said the decision had “undermined football’s commitment to fair play”.
No reason for Artan's repatriation has been issued by US immigration authorities, but Somalia is one of several countries on a travel ban list introduced by President Donald Trump's administration. After speaking to the US authorities, world governing body Fifa said Artan will miss the tournament.
A senior adviser to Somalia's ministry of youth and sports confirmed the denial of entry to the BBC and said Artan had been travelling with valid documents. 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.
This week, Iranian officials said support staff had been denied visas at the last minute, a claim disputed by the US state department, while the Iraq striker, Aymen Hussein, was held and questioned for nearly seven hours at Chicago’s O’Hare airport.
"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," he said. A Somali embassy official in Nairobi told the BBC that Artan's diplomatic passport had been issued specifically to ease his travel after earlier visa difficulties.
The Swiss midfielder Breel Embolo was also denied an entry visa last week, but Swiss authorities said they had successfully appealed against the decision. Speaking in a statement to Reuters, Artan said that despite the circumstances he was in a positive mood and focused on the next challenge.
It's actually not funny and something has to be said.
What's confirmed
- A senior adviser to Somalia's ministry of youth and sports confirmed the denial of entry to the BBC and said Artan had been travelling with valid documents.
- “Omar Artan is among Africa’s most respected referees and deserves the support of the entire football community,” said Ciise Aden Abshir, a senior adviser to Somalia’s Ministry of Youth and Sports and a former…
- “Omar Artan is among Africa’s most respected referees and deserves the support of the entire football community,” said Ciise Aden Abshir, a senior adviser to Somalia’s Ministry of Youth and Sports and a former national t
- Fifa confirmed that Omar Artan “will be unable to train and officiate at the Fifa World Cup 2026” in a statement issued to media on Monday.
- No reason for Artan's repatriation has been issued by US immigration authorities, but Somalia is one of several countries on a travel ban list introduced by President Donald Trump's administration.
- This week, Iranian officials said support staff had been denied visas at the last minute, a claim disputed by the US state department, while the Iraq striker, Aymen Hussein, was held and questioned for nearly seven hours
What's still developing
- No reason for Artan's repatriation has been issued by US immigration authorities, but Somalia is one of several countries on a travel ban list introduced by President Donald Trump's administration.
- After speaking to the US authorities, world governing body Fifa said Artan will miss the tournament.
- A Somali embassy official in Nairobi told the BBC that Artan's diplomatic passport had been issued specifically to ease his travel after earlier visa difficulties.
- Speaking in a statement to Reuters, Artan said that despite the circumstances he was in a positive mood and focused on the next challenge.
- "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," he 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…
- It's actually not funny and something has to be said.
- Fifa confirmed that Omar Artan “will be unable to train and officiate at the Fifa World Cup 2026” in a statement issued to media on Monday.