FIFA President Infantino Calls Somali Referee Denial Unfortunate

FIFA president Gianni Infantino called the case of Somali World Cup referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, who was denied entry to the United States, "unfortunate." Artan, who had previously been denied entry to the United States, was subsequently appointed by UEFA to officiate the 2026 UEFA Super Cup. On the eve of the 2026 Men's World Cup, Infantino faced questions from the media addressing multiple off-field controversies including ticket prices and the barring of officials from the United States. The denial of the Somali referee has added to the pre-tournament scrutiny facing FIFA leadership.