By Ogungbayi Adeyemi S. | adeyemi@ddnewsonline.com
Editor, DDNews |
Somali World Cup referee Omar Artan received a heroic welcome on Wednesday upon his arrival in Mogadishu after being denied entry into the United States.
Artan was set to become the first Somali referee to officiate at a FIFA World Cup after being included on the final list of match officials. He is one of Africa’s top referees and was named the continent’s best male referee in 2025.
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However, he was denied entry at Miami International Airport on Saturday due to vetting concerns, according to a statement from U.S. Customs and Border Protection. FIFA subsequently removed him from the tournament’s referee list.
The Somalia Embassy in Kenya, which processed his visa, confirmed that Artan was issued a visa to travel to the U.S. last week. He was expected to join other World Cup referees at their training base in Miami, as the United States co-hosts the 2026 tournament with Mexico and Canada.
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Hundreds of supporters, government officials, and members of Somalia’s football community gathered at Aden Adde International Airport to welcome him. Supporters waving Somali flags crowded around Artan as he disembarked, draping him in the national flag.
He was escorted by police officers to the airport’s VIP terminal, where he was received by Somalia’s Minister of Youth and Sports, officials from the Somalia Football Federation, and other dignitaries.
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Artan thanked the Somali government, the Somali people, and FIFA for their support. He expressed his intention to attend the next World Cup and urged Somalis to remain confident and defend the country’s name.
The decision to deny a FIFA-appointed match official entry to a World Cup host country has drawn widespread international criticism and raised questions about the United States’ capacity to host the tournament.
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Somalia is among nearly 40 countries subject to new travel restrictions under the Trump administration’s immigration policies.
World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, writing on X (formerly Twitter), stated that Artan’s expected milestone at this year’s World Cup stands regardless of the incident.
“He reached the summit of his profession and inspired a generation in Somalia. Being kept off the pitch does not change that,” Tedros said.
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