Somali referee Omar Artan has been hailed as a hero in Mogadishu after being denied access to the US for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Artan was chosen to become the first Somali official to participate in a World Cup after making the final selection of match officials for the tournament by FIFA and had also been recognized as Africa’s best male referee in 2025.
He has since had his dream of attending the World Cup crushed after U.S authorities at Miami International Airport refused to admit him based on unspecified “vetting issues.” Following this, he was removed from the FIFA World Cup officiating list.
Despite this, he was met by hundreds of supporters at Mogadishu’s Aden Adde International Airport who were waving Somali flags and celebrating the appointment, as thousands of people later attended an honoring ceremony in the city’s capital where he was lauded as an inspiration of hope and persistence to young Somalis.
Artan was resilient during a press conference and insisted: ” I promise you, God willing, that I will attend the next one” while imploring Somalians to keep their pride in their country.
Somalia’s Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre applauded the referee and said that he had already etched his name in history and inspired millions across the country. His omission from the event is sure to gain International attention and further fuel the debate over the restrictions on access that sports participants face.
