African match officials clear visa hurdle for 2026 World Cup as seminar begins without Somalia’s Artan

All African match officials selected for the 2026 FIFA World Cup have successfully secured their visas and are now set to take part in the global tournament, marking a significant logistical milestone ahead of the competition.

The only exception is Somalia’s Omar Abdulkadir Artan, who is still awaiting visa approval despite multiple applications processed through Kenya. His situation remains unresolved as preparations continue without him.

Elsewhere, the referees’ preparatory seminar has already begun, with all other African officials present and fully integrated into the early stages of the tournament build-up.

The sessions are part of FIFA’s standard pre-tournament programme designed to align officiating standards and ensure consistency across matches.

The list of African match officials includes Mustapha Ghorbal of Algeria, Amin Mohamed Omar of Egypt, Pierre Ghislain Atcho of Gabon, Dahane Beida of Mauritania, Jalal Jayed of Morocco, Abongile Tom of South Africa, and Omar Abdulkadir Artan of Somalia.

Beyond the officiating contingent, Africa will be represented at the 2026 World Cup by a record 10 nations, underlining the continent’s growing footprint on football’s biggest stage.

The qualified teams are Algeria, Cape Verde, DR Congo, Egypt, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, and Tunisia.

With preparations now in full swing, attention will turn to final training refinements and tournament readiness as African officials and teams alike aim to make a strong impact on the global stage.