Italy repechage to World Cup, rejected referee breaks silence. And FIFA throws gasoline on the fire

The case of Somali referee Omar Artan, who was turned away at the U.S. border despite being selected by FIFA to represent the African Confederation at the 2026 World Cup, continues to fuel tensions and questions in an already incandescent climate on the immediate eve of the first match of the rainbow review, the one between Mexico and South Africa at 9 p.m. Italian time on Thursday, June 11.

Artan himself preferred not to close himself in an airtight silence, entrusting his state of mind to a brief statement. “I am focused on the next challenges in my career,” he explained, “Thanks to the Federations for the support, I promise to maintain my level. Now I have to look ahead.” The 1992-born match director, however, preferred not to go into the details of the rejection or the dynamics that effectively excluded him from the tournament.

His words came in the same hours that FIFA tried to distance itself from the controversy, but ended up further fueling it. Indeed, a spokesperson for the organization, speaking to AFP news agency, clarified that “FIFA is not involved in the migration policies of the host country, including the allocation of visas. It is the government of the host country that determines who receives a visa and who is admitted to its territory.”

A position that threatens to throw gasoline on the fire at a time when every detail related to exclusions, denied visas and possible replacements is being read through the lens of the long debate over possible forfeits (the Iran case is not yet de facto closed), the lengthy interrogations to which players and managers of the Iraqi national team have been subjected, and the controls deemed excessively manic by national teams such as that of Uzbekistan, coached by Italian coach Fabio Cannavaro.

The Artan case thus fits into an increasingly complex mosaic of diplomatic tensions, disputed entry procedures and decisions that could affect the conduct of the tournament. And while FIFA is trying to maintain a neutral line, each episode seems to add a new layer of uncertainty to a World Cup that, just hours away from kicking off, continues to cause more discussion off the field than on it.