World Cup Referee Omar Artan to Receive Full World Cup Match Fee After US Visa Setback

The Somali referee Omar Artan , who was denied entry into the United States ahead of the World Cup, will still receive his full tournament fee from FIFA , even though he did not officiate any matches during the event.

A person familiar with the matter confirmed that Artan remains entitled to the complete payment, with the final amount expected to be calculated after the tournament concludes next month. The official was unable to participate after being stopped at Miami International Airport following his arrival from Istanbul.

Artan, widely regarded as one of football’s leading referees and named Africa’s best male referee in 2025 , was ruled inadmissible by U.S. Customs and Border Protection , which cited vetting concerns. He had earlier been granted a visa through the Somalia Embassy in Kenya and was expected to join the referee training camp in Miami.

While FIFA clarified that it does not handle immigration decisions and that entry permissions rest with the host nation, the governing body confirmed that Artan would not be able to train or officiate at the tournament as a result of the decision.

Despite the setback, Artan has received strong support within the football community. He returned to Somalia earlier this week and was welcomed warmly, expressing confidence that he would aim to be part of the next World Cup cycle in 2030, which will be jointly hosted across Morocco, Portugal, and Spain.

Adding to his professional recognition, UEFA has appointed him to officiate the prestigious UEFA Super Cup in August, highlighting continued confidence in his abilities at the highest level of the sport.

UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin noted that football is meant to connect people and praised Artan’s officiating quality while confirming the appointment.