Somali referee Omar Artan denied entry to US for World Cup

A World Cup dream denied — Somali referee Omar Artan receives a hero's welcome at home after being blocked from entering the United States and taking part in the World Cup.

A World Cup referee from Somalia who was denied entry to the United States has returned to his country's capital of Mogadishu, where he was received by a crowd of supporters and officials. Omar Artan was set to be the first referee from Somalia to officiate a…

The first Somali picked to referee a World Cup rose from Mogadishu’s pitches, only to be barred at the US border.

Somali referee Omar Artan has returned home to a hero’s welcome after being denied entry to the United States ahead of a planned World Cup officiating role. Artan, who had been selected for a historic role at the tournament, was welcomed in Mogadishu following the setback.

Omar Abdulkadir Artan was set to become the first referee from Somalia to officiate at the World Cup but was denied entry into the United States

Artan was due to be first Somali referee at World Cup ‘I promise you that I will attend the next one’ The World Cup referee from Somalia who was denied entry to the United States arrived on Wednesday in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, where he was received by a crowd of supporters and officials. Omar Artan was due to be the first referee from Somalia to officiate at a World Cup after making Fifa’s final list for the tournament. He is one of Africa’s top referees and was named the continent’s best male referee in 2025. Continue reading...

A World Cup referee from Somalia who was denied entry to the United States arrived Wednesday in Somali’s capital of Mogadishu, where he was received by a crowd of supporters and officials. Omar Artan was set to be the first referee from Somalia to officiate at a World Cup after making FIFA’s final list for the tournament.

Somali referee Omar Artan said the "biggest dream of my life" had been ripped away after he was denied entry to the United States to officiate at the World Cup."I'm just simply a referee who's trying to live his dream, the biggest dream of my life, to come to the World Cup."

The World Cup referee from Somalia who was denied entry to the United States after arriving in Miami and subsequently dropped from the tournament by FIFA was set to make history for his country. Omar Artan was due to be the first referee from Somalia to officiate at the World Cup after making FIFA’s final list for the tournament, which was announced two months ago.