FIFA to pay Somali referee Artan full World Cup fee after US entry ban

Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan will be paid his full FIFA World Cup tournament fee despite being barred from entering the United States to officiate at the competition, a source familiar with the matter has confirmed. The Trump administration denied Artan entry, citing alleged “links to suspected members of terror organizations.”

Artan, named Africa’s referee of the year in 2025, had been set to make history as the first Somali to officiate at a World Cup. He was turned away by US Customs and Border Protection before returning to Mogadishu, where hundreds of flag-waving supporters gave him a hero’s welcome.

“I promise you, God willing, that I will attend the next one,” Artan told the crowd. “I want the Somali public to take comfort in this and remain confident.”

The decision to block Artan sparked international outrage. FIFA president Gianni Infantino addressed the situation at a press conference ahead of the tournament’s opening on Wednesday, urging people to “chill, relax” and insisting FIFA was working to resolve every issue the competition had faced.

Despite the setback, Artan’s career has received a significant boost. UEFA has appointed him to referee the Super Cup between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa in August — an annual showpiece contested between the Champions League and Europa League winners.

PSG secured their place in the match by defeating Arsenal on penalties in last month’s Champions League final, successfully defending the title they won 12 months earlier. Aston Villa claimed their spot after winning their first piece of European silverware in 44 years, beating Freiburg 3-0 in the Europa League final, with Youri Tielemans, Emiliano Buendia, and Morgan Rogers all on the scoresheet.