FIFA will pay Somali referee Omar Artan his full 2026 World Cup tournament fee despite his inability to officiate after being denied entry to the United States.
Artan was among 52 match officials selected by FIFA for the tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. However, US border authorities stopped him after he arrived at Miami International Airport on June 6.
The Trump administration claimed that Artan had links to people suspected of belonging to terrorist groups. No further public details were provided to support the allegation.
The final amount FIFA will pay World Cup referees has not yet been confirmed. Artan is nevertheless expected to receive the same tournament remuneration at the end of the competition, despite not taking part in any matches.
Artan said he travelled with the correct visa, FIFA accreditation, and all documents required for his role at the tournament.
US officials questioned him for more than 11 hours before placing him in a holding cell. He was later sent back to Istanbul, where his journey to the United States had begun, and then returned to Somalia.
The referee received a large public welcome when he arrived home, with crowds gathering to show their support.
