Canada Opens Door for Omar Artan to Officiate World Cup Matches in Vancouver

Canada has reportedly indicated that Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan would be welcome to officiate matches in Vancouver despite being denied entry into the United States earlier this week.

According to a report from a CAF-accredited journalist, Micky Jnr, Canadian authorities have no objection to Artan carrying out his World Cup duties on Canadian soil, potentially offering a lifeline to the experienced match official.

The development comes just days after Artan was refused entry into the United States, a decision that led to uncertainty over his involvement in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The Somali referee had been selected as one of the tournament's match officials before the visa issue emerged. FIFA later confirmed that he would be unable to train or officiate in the United States following the decision by US authorities.

However, Canada's willingness to host the official in Vancouver could provide an alternative route for him to remain involved in the competition, depending on FIFA's final arrangements and tournament logistics.