Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, who was denied entry to the United States to participate in the World Cup, will be paid his full tournament fees.
The Trump administration said the United States had denied Artan entry to the World Cup because of his ties to “suspected members of terrorist organizations.”
A source familiar with the matter said that while Artan will not participate 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 represent the global showpiece but was rejected by US Customs and Border Protection.
However, he returned home to a hero’s welcome when European football body UEFA appointed him as referee for the UEFA Super Cup match between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa in August.
Published on June 14, 2026
