A Somali referee holding a valid visa was denied entry to the United States ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, in what has become the starkest illustration of the logistical problems threatening to overshadow the tournament before it begins.
Omar Abdulkadir Artan would have been the first Somali to referee a World Cup match. According to Reuters, he held a valid visa but was still turned away at the US border.
FIFA said it plays no role in and cannot intervene in the immigration processes of the host countries.
The referee’s case is one of several problems that have drawn widespread coverage in the international press ahead of the tournament, co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States. Visa delays, strict US border controls, ticket prices and accommodation costs have all prompted strong reactions from fans and journalists alike, with concerns that millions of visitors will face a difficult experience.
Foreign media have reported significant delays in the issuance of US tourist visas, alongside strict border checks that risk discouraging fans from travelling. Several people who had received visa approval were ultimately denied entry, according to reports.
Tickets out of reach
FIFA has confirmed that its pricing model is dynamic — meaning prices fluctuate, and in practice rise, based on demand. According to international media, six million tickets are available across the tournament’s 104 matches, but they are described as scarce or unaffordable for low and middle-income buyers.
Prices for group-stage matches start at $60 and reach $2,735 in certain cases. The round of 32 carries prices of up to $750, while the round of 16 reaches up to $980. Quarter-final tickets go up to $1,775, semi-final tickets reach $3,295, and tickets for the final range from $2,030 to $7,875.
FIFA has indicated these figures are indicative and that prices are likely to continue rising closer to each match.
Accommodation is a further strain on budgets, with hotels in host cities looking to capitalise on the surge in demand the tournament is expected to bring.
Read more: