Somali World Cup referee, blocked from entering the USA, returns to the country and is received as a hero

Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, who had been scheduled to officiate matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup but was denied entry to the United States, was greeted upon arrival at Aden Abdulle Osman International Airport in Mogadishu, Somalia, on June 10, 2026.
REUTERS/Feisal Omar
Somali World Cup referee, who was prevented from entering the United States, he arrived this Wednesday (10) in the capital Mogadishu, where he was welcomed by a crowd of supporters and authorities.
✅ Follow the g1 international news channel on WhatsApp
Omar Artan was about to become the first Somali referee to act in a World Cup, after being included in FIFA's final list for the tournament. He is considered one of Africa's top referees and was voted the continent's best male referee in 2025.
On Saturday (6), he was stopped at Miami International Airport due to "verification issues", according to the US Customs and Border Protection Service, without detailing what these concerns were. FIFA then removed him from the list of referees for the tournament.
According to the Somali Embassy in Kenya, which processed the visa, Artan had received authorization to travel to the US the previous week.
He returned to Mogadishu to a hero's welcome at the airport, where he thanked the government and people of Somalia, as well as FIFA, for their support.
"I promise you, God willing, that I will be present at the next edition," he said him, while hundreds of supporters waved Somali flags. "I want the Somali public to take comfort in this and maintain confidence."
The unusual decision by the US to deny entry to a referee appointed by FIFA to serve in a World Cup host country sparked global outrage and raised doubts among some fans about the United States' ability to host the competition.
The reasons for this expulsion are not yet known, as Artan had a valid visa, said Ciise Aden Abshir, advisor to the Somali Ministry of Youth and Sports.
A Somalia is among nearly 40 countries subject to new travel restrictions imposed under the Trump administration's immigration policy.
In Donald Trump's crosshairs, Somalia is one of several countries whose citizens are subject to a travel ban on the United States imposed by the Trump administration. In late November, the American president described the country as "rotten" and declared his intention to end the special status that protects Somali citizens from deportation.
Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, who had been scheduled to officiate matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup but was denied entry to the United States, was greeted upon arrival at Aden Abdulle Osman International Airport in Mogadishu, Somalia, on June 10, 2026.
REUTERS/Feisal Omar
People gather to welcome Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, who had been scheduled to referee matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup but was denied entry into the United States upon arriving at Aden Abdulle Osman International Airport in Mogadishu, Somalia, on June 10, 2026.
REUTERS/Feisal Omar.
READ ALSO:
Trump restricts the entry of citizens from 19 countries into the USA
Trump extends restrictions on entry into the USA and includes 7 more countries on the travel ban list
From the field to politics: understand the discomfort between James Rodríguez and Petro on the eve of the World Cup
Removed from the FIFA board
Somali referee Omar Artan has been removed from the World Cup referee panel after he was prevented from entering the United States, the International Football Federation (Fifa) said on Monday (8). Artan will not be changed at this time", stated the federation.
Within FIFA since 2018, Artan has played in the Somali league and was elected Referee of the Year by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in 2025.
Artan "is one of the most respected referees in Africa and (...) denying him entry to the United States and preventing him from working (...) harms not only him personally, but also undermines football's commitment to football. equity, merit and the spirit of fair play", lamented Abshir. "The football community must support him at this difficult time", added the advisor, who is a former captain of the Somali national team.
Omar Artan would be the first Somali referee to officiate World Cup games. At 34 years old, he was among the 52 referees selected to work at this year's edition of the tournament, jointly organized by Canada, Mexico and the United States.
The Trump administration had not budged publicly expressed about the case until the last update of this report.

Source: G1