Somali Referee Artan Gets Full World Cup Pay After US Ban

Somali referee Omar Artan will receive full World Cup pay after US visa denial, then lands UEFA Super Cup job in August.

Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan waves to fans in Mogadishu after US World Cup entry denial

Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan will not step on a World Cup pitch this summer, but he will still collect every dollar of the tournament fee.

FIFA has confirmed the 34-year-old will be paid in full despite being stopped at the US border.

Artan, named Africa's referee of the year in 2025, was set to become the first Somali to officiate at the men's World Cup. He landed in Miami with a diplomatic passport and a valid visa, but US Customs and Border Protection held him for an 11-hour interview before putting him on a flight home.

The Trump administration said on Tuesday the decision was based on security vetting. Officials claimed Artan has links to "suspected members of terror organisations". A separate report said he was questioned about alleged ties to Al-Shabaab.

FIFA said it cannot overturn a host country's immigration call. "FIFA can confirm that match official Omar Abdulkadir Artan will be unable to train and officiate at the FIFA World Cup 2026 after he was denied entry," a spokesman said.

But the world body will honour his contract. A source told Reuters that even though Artan will take no part in the tournament, FIFA has committed to paying his full salary.

Artan returned to Mogadishu on June 10 to a hero's welcome. He was calm when he met reporters.

"What happened has happened and it was fate. I am grateful for the support FIFA gave me," he said, describing the ban as a matter of fate and urging fellow Somalis not to lose heart.

He also told young people back home to keep faith in Somalia, saying there was no other place he would rather be.

The story did not end at the airport.

In a quick turnaround, UEFA has handed Artan one of Europe's biggest club fixtures. He will referee the UEFA Super Cup between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa in August.

The match is scheduled for 12 August in Salzburg, Austria.

European officials said the appointment came after talks with the Confederation of African Football. It offers the Somali, a FIFA-listed referee since 2018, a global stage just weeks after his American dream was cut short.

For Artan, it is a rare second chance. From deportation in Miami to a guaranteed five-figure World Cup payout and now a Super Cup final, his journey has moved from setback to spotlight.

He leaves for Europe next month, carrying both a FIFA pay slip and a point to prove.