Bulawayo Mayor and former Primary and Secondary Education Minister David Coltart has called on African nations to consider boycotting the 2026 FIFA World Cup after Somalia’s Omar Abdulkadir Artan, Africa’s Referee of the Year for 2025, was denied entry into the United States despite holding a valid visa.
By Advent Shoko
The incident has sparked outrage across parts of the continent and raised fresh concerns over whether immigration policies in one of the World Cup host nations could affect the participation of African players, officials, journalists and supporters.
Artan, one of 52 match officials selected by FIFA for the expanded 2026 World Cup, was reportedly stopped by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials upon arriving at Miami International Airport on June 6. Although he had been granted a visa following public pressure and social media campaigns, he was denied entry and placed on a return flight after what reports say was an approximately 11-hour interrogation.
According to reports, border officials questioned him extensively about the Al-Shabaab militant group before ultimately refusing him entry on what authorities described as “vetting concerns.”
The development triggered a strong reaction from Coltart, who argued that the treatment of a FIFA-accredited African referee amounted to an insult not only to Somalia but to the entire continent.
“This is simply ridiculous. African Nations should now boycott the World Cup. If this referee isn’t guilty of any crime which would justify the denial of a visa then this action is against our entire Continent.
“If African Nations timidly just accept this then we as a continent must forever accept that notion that we are second class citizens of the world,” Coltart wrote on X.
His comments have resonated with many Africans who believe the incident raises serious questions about fairness, equality and the ability of host nations to guarantee access to all accredited World Cup participants.
The controversy comes at a sensitive time for FIFA as preparations intensify for the 2026 World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. The tournament is expected to be the largest in the competition’s history, featuring 48 national teams and drawing millions of supporters from across the globe.
A record 10 African nations are set to participate at the 2026 FIFA World Cup following the expansion of the tournament from 32 to 48 teams. The continent will have its largest-ever representation at football’s biggest event, with the following countries securing qualification:
- Morocco
- Senegal
- Egypt
- Algeria
- Tunisia
- Ghana
- Côte d’Ivoire
- Cape Verde
- South Africa
- DR Congo
The inclusion of 10 African teams underscores the significance of the Omar Artan controversy. Critics argue that if a FIFA-accredited African referee can be denied entry despite holding a valid visa, concerns will inevitably arise about whether players, officials, journalists and supporters from participating African nations could face similar challenges during the tournament.
FIFA has distanced itself from the immigration dispute, saying decisions regarding visas and border entry remain the responsibility of host governments.
In a statement, football’s governing body confirmed that Artan would not be able to participate in officiating or training activities linked to the tournament preparations, while emphasising that FIFA has no authority over a country’s immigration processes.
The Somali Ministry of Youth and Sports also weighed in, expressing support for the referee and defending his professional record.
The ministry said it had “full confidence in his integrity, professionalism and continued contribution” to the game.
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