By Shire Abdi - Reporter
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Somalia, 11 June 2026 – FIFA President Gianni Infantino said FIFA is seeking a solution after Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan was denied entry into the United States, but it cannot control governments or immigration authorities.
Speaking at a press conference in Mexico City on Wednesday, on the eve of the 2026 World Cup, Infantino said FIFA regretted what had happened to Artan.
“Of course it is important, unfortunately, what happened to Omar, the referee from Somalia,” Infantino said.
He said FIFA would continue discussions over the case, but cautioned that the organisation’s authority was limited.
“We don’t control everything. We’ll try, we’ll discuss, we will speak. We will see,” Infantino said.
Infantino said FIFA always tries to find solutions, but added that immediate public pressure does not always help resolve sensitive issues.
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“Sometimes to immediately start screaming and shouting has the opposite effect of finding a solution,” he said.
He said FIFA was a sports organisation and could not overrule governments or police forces.
“We need to respect that we are not the kings of the world who can rule over governments and police forces,” Infantino said. “We are a sports organisation. We try to do our best with the means that we have.”
Artan was one of the 52 referees selected by FIFA to officiate in the tournament.
Artan who returned to Somalia on Wednesday thanked FIFA, CAF and the Somali public for their support.
The Somali government has since said that it will seek further clarification from relevant partners on Artan's issue.