World Cup 2026: FIFA to fully compensate Omar Artan despite his exclusion

FIFA has decided to provide financial support to Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, who was forced to miss the 2026 World Cup after being denied entry into the United States upon arrival at Miami International Airport. Despite his absence from the tournament, he will receive the full compensation, bonuses, and payments allocated to referees selected for the competition.

At 34 years old and considered one of Africa’s top referees, Artan was set to make history as the first Somali official to participate in a World Cup. However, U.S. authorities denied him entry into the country despite a valid visa, prompting FIFA to remove him from the tournament’s official list of referees.

While the world governing body emphasized that it cannot intervene in immigration decisions made by host nations, it has nonetheless chosen to pay him the full amounts he would have received had he taken part in the competition.

This decision is seen as a powerful gesture towards an official whose exceptional journey has left a mark on African football in recent years. Artan was recently named African Referee of the Year by the Confederation of African Football and has received widespread support from football figures following this controversial exclusion.

Nouya M'toama

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Versatile journalist specializing in sports and political news, with extensive experience across radio, print and digital media platforms.