Omar Abdulkadir Artan, the Somali referee selected to become the first from his country to officiate at a FIFA World Cup, will be paid his full tournament fee by football’s world governing body after being barred from entering the United States.
The 34-year-old, named Confederation of African Football (CAF) men’s referee of the year in 2025, was detained for 11 hours at Miami International Airport and subsequently deported, despite holding a diplomatic passport and a valid single-entry US visa.
US officials cited “vetting concerns” and an alleged “association with suspected members of terror organisations”, including possible links to the militant group al-Shabaab based in Somalia.
Artan has strongly denied the allegations, describing the episode as the shattering of his life’s biggest dream. “I had the right papers and everything. I had the right visa,” he said. “I’m just simply a referee who’s trying to live his dream, to come to the World Cup.”
FIFA’s financial commitment
FIFA has committed to paying Artan the complete salary he would have earned had he officiated at the World Cup, according to reports citing the governing body. While match officials are normally compensated after the tournament concludes, the organization moved quickly to shield the Somali referee from any financial repercussions stemming from the travel disruption.
FIFA also assisted Artan during his return transit through Istanbul before he headed back to Mogadishu.
Upon his return home, Artan was warmly received and thanked his supporters in Somalia. He indicated that the setback has not diminished his ambitions, stating his intention to continue working toward future major tournaments, including the 2030 World Cup.
FIFA has stated it has no authority over the host nations’ immigration decisions for the co-hosted 2026 tournament in the US, Canada and Mexico.
How much will he receive, then?
FIFA has not publicly released the precise figure for Artan or for referees in general, as payments are typically finalised and disbursed after the tournament. However, multiple reports indicate that selected referees for the 2026 World Cup are in line for a base tournament fee of up to $100,000, roughly double the amount paid at the 2014 tournament.
This base amount is paid simply for being selected and participating in the tournament preparations and setup, which can last several weeks. It does not include additional performance bonuses or match fees that top officials can earn if they referee games in the later stages.
Artan, a rising figure in African refereeing
Artan has established himself as a leading figure in African refereeing. The 2025 CAF Men’s Referee of the Year’s recent high-profile assignments include officiating the second leg of the African Champions League final between Egypt’s Pyramids FC and South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns.
On the global stage, he officiated matches at the U-20 World Cup in Chile, including the third-place playoff, and featured prominently at the Africa Cup of Nations in 2024 and 2025. His selection for the World Cup represented a landmark moment for Somali football in particular as he would have been the first of first from his country.
Next assignment in Europe
Despite the disappointment, Artan’s international career shows no sign of slowing. UEFA has appointed him to officiate the 2026 Super Cup final between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa, to be played on 12 August in Salzburg, Austria.
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