Reigning CAF Referee of the Year Omar Abdulkadir Artan has reportedly received the necessary travel clearance to join preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, ending weeks of uncertainty surrounding administrative and visa-related delays that had threatened to disrupt his participation in football’s biggest tournament.
The 34-year-old Somali official was named by FIFA among the referees selected for the expanded 48-team World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, becoming the first referee from Somalia ever chosen to officiate at a FIFA World Cup. FIFA announced the final list of 52 referees, 88 assistant referees and 30 video match officials in April following a three-year evaluation and monitoring process.
Artan’s selection was already regarded as a landmark achievement for Somali football, reflecting his rapid rise through African officiating ranks. He became a FIFA-listed referee in 2018 and made further history at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations when he became the first Somali referee to officiate at the continent’s premier international tournament.
FIFA’s Referees Committee, chaired by former Italian official Pierluigi Collina, stated that all World Cup match officials were chosen on the basis of performance quality, consistency, fitness standards and experience at international competitions.
Artan is one of seven African referees selected for the tournament, joining Algeria’s Mustapha Ghorbal, Egypt’s Amin Mohamed Omar, Gabon’s Pierre Atcho, Morocco’s Jalal Jayed, Mauritania’s Dahane Beida and South Africa’s Abongile Tom on CAF’s elite officiating roster for the competition.
The African contingent also includes 11 assistant referees and two VAR specialists, underlining the growing influence of African officials on the global stage.
With his travel clearance now reportedly secured, Artan is expected to join FIFA’s final pre-tournament activities and seminars before the World Cup kicks off across North America. His participation represents not only a personal milestone but also a historic breakthrough for Somali football, which will now have representation among the officials at the sport’s most prestigious event.
African Referees Selected for the 2026 FIFA World Cup
Referees
- Mustapha Ghorbal (Algeria)
- Amin Mohamed Omar (Egypt)
- Pierre Atcho (Gabon)
- Jalal Jayed (Morocco)
- Dahane Beida (Mauritania)
- Abongile Tom (South Africa)
- Omar Abdulkadir Artan (Somalia)
VAR Officials
- Mahmoud Ashour (Egypt)
- Hamza El Fariq (Morocco)
Assistant Referees
Representatives were selected from Egypt, Algeria, Gabon, Morocco, South Africa and Cameroon, giving Africa a total of 20 match officials across referee, assistant referee and VAR categories.