FIFA President Gianni Infantino said it was regrettable that Somali referee Omar Artan was denied a U.S. visa to officiate at the 2026 [1] World Cup.
The incident highlights the tension between international sporting appointments and national immigration policies. While FIFA selects officials based on merit, the ability of those officials to reach the tournament remains subject to the sovereign visa laws of the host nations.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Infantino said the situation regarding Artan. He said that the governing body does not have the authority to override government entry requirements, a limitation that has now prevented the Somali official from participating in the finals [1].
"It is also unfortunate what happened to Omar, the referee coming from Somalia, but in the end we do not control everything," Infantino said [1].
The 2026 [1] tournament is scheduled to be hosted across North America. The denial of entry for a selected official creates a logistical challenge for the tournament's officiating pool, and raises questions about the accessibility of the event for officials from certain regions.
FIFA has not provided further details on whether it will attempt to appeal the decision or if a replacement referee will be named to fill the vacancy left by Artan. The organization said that visa issuance decisions are handled exclusively by the relevant government authorities [1].
“"It is also unfortunate what happened to Omar... but in the end we do not control everything,"”
The denial of a visa for a FIFA-appointed official underscores the vulnerability of international sports governance to the geopolitical and immigration policies of host countries. Because FIFA lacks the legal power to guarantee entry for its staff and officials, the 2026 World Cup may face further disruptions if other officials from restricted nations encounter similar visa hurdles.
