FIFA will pay full fee to referee denied entry to the US for 2026 World Cup

Somali referee Omar Artan, who was unable to enter the United States to officiate at the 2026 World Cup due to visa issues, will receive his full tournament payment despite being unable to attend matches.

This was reported by BBC Sport, citing its own sources. According to the publication, FIFA has decided to fully compensate the referee with the fee owed to him, even though he will not be able to officiate games at the world championship.

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Earlier, it was revealed that Artan had been denied entry to the United States, which deprived him of the opportunity to work at World Cup matches. The incident sparked widespread reaction within the football community, as the Somali referee was among those appointed to officiate at the tournament.