Soccer-Somali referee denied US entry for World Cup will receive full FIFA fee


Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, who was expected to officiate at matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup but was denied entry to U.S., is hosted in a reception ceremony by members of the Somali community of Dayniile district, in Mogadishu, Somalia June 12, 2026 REUTERS/Feisal Omar

MIAMI, ⁠June 14 (Reuters) - Somali soccer referee ⁠Omar Abdulkadir Artan, who was denied ‌entry into the United States to officiate at the World Cup, will be paid his ​full tournament fee.

The Trump ⁠administration said the ⁠United States had denied Artan entry for the ⁠World ‌Cup because of his links to "suspected members of terror ⁠organizations".

A source familiar with the matter ​said even ‌though Artan will take no part ⁠in the ​World Cup, FIFA has committed to paying his salary.

Artan, Africa's referee of ⁠the year in 2025, was ​set to become the first Somali to officiate at soccer's global showpiece, but ⁠was turned back by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

However, he returned home to a hero's welcome while European soccer ​body UEFA appointed him ⁠to officiate the UEFA Super Cup ​match between Paris St ‌Germain and Aston Villa ​in August.

(Reporting by Rohith Nair in Miami; Editing by Toby Chopra)

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