Nigeria: ‘FIFA must not compromise on World Cup entry, security guarantees’
By Zuleihat Owuiye, Nigeria
Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter has warned that FIFA must uphold two core obligations for World Cup hosts: ensuring safety and allowing unrestricted entry for all qualified teams, officials, and referees.
Blatter made the comment while reacting to the case of Somali referee Omar Artan, who was denied entry into the United States ahead of the 2026 World Cup over alleged links to suspected members of terrorist organizations, according to a U.S. government official. FIFA confirmed Artan would not be able to train or officiate at the tournament.
“A FIFA World Cup host country must guarantee two fundamental principles: the safety of the country – and the unrestricted entry of all qualified teams, officials and referees,” Blatter said. “The case of referee Omar Artan from Somalia is against one of these obligations.”
While FIFA backed the U.S. decision, stating it does not interfere in host country immigration or visa processes, Artan has since been appointed by UEFA to officiate the 2026 Super Cup between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa.
