FIFA has officially confirmed that Omar Abdulkadir Artan, Africa's highest-ranked referee and the reigning CAF Referee of the Year, will not take part in the 2026 FIFA World Cup after United States authorities refused him entry into the country.

Artan had been set to make history as the first Somali referee ever to officiate at a FIFA World Cup — a milestone that would have represented a landmark moment for the East African nation and the broader continent. That opportunity has now been extinguished.

Turned back at Miami airport

According to reports, Artan was denied entry upon arriving at Miami International Airport and was forced to return to Istanbul. FIFA subsequently issued a formal statement acknowledging his exclusion from the tournament.