World Cup 2026: Omar Abdulkadir Artan banned from entering the United States

Africa Today at 09:11

Nafongo TRAORE

News Editor

Extremely bad news for African refereeing. Omar Abdulkadir Artan, who was appointed for the2026 World Cup, has been denied entry to the United States upon arrival. The reasons remain unclear.

Upon his arrival, Omar Abdulkadir Artan was refused entry into the US according to African journalist Micky Jnr. Without any official explanation, he was immediately sent back to Turkey, as the same source reported.

A bitter blow for the referee, who had already overcome several major hurdles to secure his visa at the last minute.

So far, there has been no official statement from FIFA or US authorities regarding this incident. Additional details are expected to emerge in the coming hours about this case, which has shaken the African refereeing community as the World Cup kickoff approaches on June 11.

The 34-year-old referee is currently one of the continent's top officials, having shone in major matches at the Africa Cup of Nations and the CAF Champions League. His participation in the 2026 World Cup would have been much more than a simple appointment—it would have been a huge symbol for Somalia, marking the country's first ever referee at this global event.

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