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Somali referee denied US entry for World Cup will receive full Fifa fee

Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan

Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, who was expected to officiate at matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup but was denied entry to US, addresses fans at the Mogadishu stadium, in Mogadishu, Somalia, June 10, 2026. 

Photo credit: Reuters

Somali soccer referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, who was denied entry into the United States to officiate at the World Cup, will be paid his full tournament fee.

The Trump administration said the United States had denied Artan entry for the World Cup because of his ​links to "suspected members of terror organisations".