Somali Referee Omar Artan to Receive Full FIFA World Cup Fee

ATLANTA (AP): Somali referee Omar Artan, who was barred from entering the United States for the World Cup, is expected to collect his complete tournament payment from FIFA.

A person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press that Artan remains eligible for the fee even though he will not handle any matches during the almost six-week competition. The person requested anonymity because they were not cleared to discuss the issue publicly.

The source said the amount payable to Artan will be finalised after the tournament ends next month.

Artan, regarded among football's leading match officials, was selected as Africa's best male referee in 2025. However, the Somali citizen was refused admission after landing at Miami International Airport from Istanbul last week.

US Customs and Border Protection said Artan was "inadmissible due to vetting concerns".

The Somalia Embassy in Kenya, which processed his travel document, said Artan had first been granted a visa to enter the United States. He had been scheduled to join the other World Cup referees at their Miami training base.

FIFA said immigration decisions were outside its control and that entry rests with the government of the host country. Because of that, the organisation said Artan could not participate in training or officiate at the World Cup.

Artan, 34, received a celebratory homecoming in Somalia last week. He also pledged to be present at the next World Cup in 2030, which will be staged mainly in Morocco, Portugal and Spain.

In addition, Artan has been chosen to referee the UEFA Super Cup in August, one of European football's major fixtures.

"Football is made to connect people, and UEFA wants to show its respect to Omar and his outstanding officiating skills," UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin said in a statement.