A FIFA representative has confirmed that Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan who was denied entry to the US by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials has been dropped by FIFA and will not officiate at the World Cup as duly assigned.

Artan is rated as Africa’s best referee 2025 but he became a victim of President Trump’s visa ban on some countries including Somalia.

The FIFA rep reportedly said: “I can confirm that the visa issues have not been fully resolved and he will not be available to officiate at the FIFA World Cup.”

Artan is about to make history as the first Somali official appointed to a World Cup. He was the first Somali to officiate at the Africa Cup of Nations, overseeing the group-stage fixture between Tunisia and Namibia in 2024. He was then named CAF’s African Referee of the Year for 2025.

Another victim of the travel ban was Iraqi World Cup striker, Aymen Hussein, who was held and questioned for nearly seven ​hours at Chicago’s O’Hare airport after arriving with the squad.