Somali referee Omar Artan
Somali referee to receive full FIFA fee despite missing the World Cup
Omar Artan will referee the UEFA Super Cup after US entry denial ended his World Cup role.
Published:
June 14, 2026 at 12:32:48 PM
Modified:
June 14, 2026 at 12:40:46 PM
Somali referee Omar Artan has been handed a major European assignment after missing the FIFA World Cup because of a US entry denial, with the recent reporting that FIFA will still pay him his full tournament fee.
Artan, 34, was denied entry at Miami International Airport after questioning by US immigration officials. According to AP, US Customs and Border Protection cited vetting concerns, while FIFA said immigration decisions are handled by host-country authorities.
The setback has not stopped Artan’s international calendar. UEFA confirmed that he will officiate the 2026 UEFA Super Cup between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa in Salzburg, Austria, on August 12.
Artan has been on FIFA’s international referees list since 2018 and was named CAF Men’s Referee of the Year in 2025. His World Cup absence ended what would have been a historic appearance for Somali officiating, but the UEFA appointment keeps him on one of football’s biggest stages.
He has said he still hopes to referee at the 2030 World Cup.
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