MOGADISHU — Somali referee Omar Artan received a hero’s welcome in Mogadishu on Wednesday after being denied entry to the United States and subsequently removed from FIFA’s referee list for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Artan, who was set to become the first Somali referee to officiate at a World Cup, returned home to hundreds of supporters, government officials, and members of Somalia’s football community gathered at Aden Adde International Airport.
The highly regarded official, named Africa’s Best Male Referee in 2025, had earned a place on FIFA’s final list of match officials for the tournament.
However, he was denied entry upon arrival at Miami International Airport on Saturday due to what U.S. Customs and Border Protection described as “vetting concerns.” No further details were provided.
FIFA subsequently removed Artan from its World Cup referee roster. The Somalia Embassy in Kenya said he had been issued a valid U.S. visa before traveling to join fellow match officials at their World Cup training base in Miami.
Upon his return, Artan thanked the Somali people, government and FIFA for their support and expressed confidence that his World Cup dream remains alive.
“I promise you, God willing, that I will attend the next one,” Artan told supporters waving Somali flags at the airport. “I want the Somali public to take comfort in this and remain confident.”
Artan was escorted by police officers to the airport’s VIP terminal, where he was welcomed by Somalia’s sports minister and other dignitaries before addressing local media.
“It is up to all of us to defend the Somali name,” he said. “Somalia belongs to us, whether it is in a bad state or a good state. That flag belongs to us, and that passport belongs to us.”
The decision to deny entry to a FIFA-appointed World Cup official sparked criticism internationally and raised questions among some observers about the United States’ role as a host nation for the tournament, which it is staging alongside Canada and Mexico.
Somalia is among several countries affected by expanded U.S. travel restrictions introduced under President Donald Trump’s administration.
Despite missing out on the tournament, Artan’s achievement has been widely celebrated across Africa and beyond. World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus praised the Somali official this week, saying his historic accomplishment remained intact regardless of the circumstances.
Source: Saudi Gazette