Fifa pays Somali referee Omar Artan full World Cup fee despite visa issues
3 sources • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 14, 2026, 9:09 AM
Last updated Jun 14, 2026
Fifa has confirmed that Somali referee Omar Artan will receive his full tournament fee for the World Cup, even though he was denied entry to the United States to officiate. Artan faced an 11-hour interrogation by US immigration at Miami International Airport due to alleged associations with terror organizations but maintained that he is simply a referee. After his return to Somalia, he received logistical support from Fifa officials. Artan has been invited to officiate the Uefa Super Cup in August and aims to participate in the 2030 World Cup.
- •Omar Artan denied entry to the US for the World Cup
- •Fifa will pay his full tournament fee
- •Artan faced 11-hour interrogation by US officials
- •He has been invited to officiate the Uefa Super Cup
- •Aims to referee at the 2030 World Cup
- 9:09 AMYahoo Sports — Fifa to pay Somali referee Artan full World Cup fee
- 9:00 AMBBC Sport — Fifa to pay Somali referee Artan full World Cup fee
"Somali referee Omar Artan, who was denied entry to the United States to officiate at the World Cup, will still receive his tournament fee from Fifa in full.
"Somali referee Omar Artan, who was denied entry to the United States to officiate at the World Cup, will still receive his tournament fee from Fifa in full.
Sources
External links- Yahoo SportsJun 14, 2026, 9:09 AMFifa to pay Somali referee Artan full World Cup fee
Somali referee Omar Artan, who was denied entry to the United States to officiate at the World Cup, will still receive his tournament fee from Fifa in full.
- BBC SportJun 14, 2026, 9:00 AMFifa to pay Somali referee Artan full World Cup fee
Somali referee Omar Artan, who was denied entry to the United States to officiate at the World Cup, will still receive his tournament fee from Fifa in full.
Original reporting and copyright belong to the linked sources. SportsNewsReport.com aggregates and links — it does not republish full articles.
Related Stories
Last 14 days
MLS•Jun 14, 2026, 10:00 AM‘It’s going to be extremely hot’: workers imperiled as sweltering World Cup temperatures are forecast- FIFA World Cup•Jun 14, 2026, 9:15 AMHow to watch Germany vs Curacao live: Stream, TV channel, team news, prediction
- FIFA World Cup•Jun 14, 2026, 9:10 AMWorld Cup Day 3: Brazil unconvincing, Scotland end wait, Swiss snoozefest
- MLS•Jun 14, 2026, 8:49 AM📲 Germany, Netherlands, Turkey + kick off on Sunday; see schedule
- FIFA World Cup•Jun 14, 2026, 8:48 AMSmaller than Isle of Man & huge Dutch influence: Curacao making history
- Bundesliga•Jun 14, 2026, 8:10 AMMarcus Rashford: Bayern Munich’s stance on pursuit of United ace
