FIFA president Gianni Infantino on Wednesday described as “unfortunate” the case of Somali referee Omar Artan, who was refused entry to the United States of America for the World Cup 2026.
“It is unfortunate as well what happened to… Omar, the referee from Somalia. But again, we don’t control everything,” Infantino said at a press conference on the eve of the tournament.
“We try always to find solutions, but then we need to respect that we are not the kings of the world who can rule over governments and police forces, we are a sports organisation,” he added.
Artan, voted Africa’s top men’s referee last year, insisted he had the correct visa to enter the United States, but he was turned back at Miami International Airport and then put on a flight back to Turkey over the weekend.
Catch all FIFA World Cup 2026 live updates here!
A US State Department official said the referee was “associated with suspected members of terrorist organisations”, therefore “making the traveller ineligible for admission to the United States”.
Artan would have been the first match official from Somalia to officiate at a World Cup finals.
Infantino was asked by a British reporter if he felt FIFA had “lost control” of its own tournament because of the case of Artan and also Washington’s decision to refuse visas for 15 members of the Iran team’s support staff.
“In 2035, I think, we hope, the women’s World Cup will be in the UK. Would you find it normal that FIFA would dictate to the British government who to let into the country and who not to let in the country? I don’t know, maybe you find it normal?” Infantino asked.
Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel
Gianni Infantino called on the media to “chill and relax,” clarifying later that he did not mean to imply that FIFA was not doing anything about issues such as visas.
“When I say chill, I don’t mean to chill and do nothing, I mean to trust us that we are working behind the scenes, trying to understand,” he said.
“Our world is a very aggressive world; security rules above everything.”
The FIFA president stated that the governing body successfully brought Iran to the USA for the mega-event, despite the ongoing conflict between the two nations.
“It has been successful to bring Iran to play in America, I don’t know who would’ve managed to do that … we don’t live on the moon, we live on planet Earth, and we try our best,” he stated.
READ: World Cup 2026 opening ceremony: Pakistan time, date, performer list
