Friday July 3, 2026
From local pitches in Somalia to the international stage, Omar Artan’s rise has continued to gather momentum — and his latest accolade only adds to a remarkable year.
The Somali FIFA referee, already widely known beyond football circles after being refused entry to the United States for the 2026 World Cup, has now received another major honour.
On 30 June, Kuwait presented the 34-year-old with an award of excellence, further cementing his growing reputation in world football.
The Kuwait Football Association said the prize recognised Artan’s achievements and his contribution to the game at international level.
Artan called the distinction a ‘’generous honour’’ and said it reflected ‘’invaluable trust’’ in his work.
‘Honouring Somalia’
In remarks after the ceremony, Artan thanked supporters around the world who stood with him after the US entry dispute. The Somali football figure also said he prayed for continued success, hoping to reach the ‘’highest levels of performance’’ while ‘’honouring Somalia’’ on the global stage.
After receiving the award, Artan took charge of the final of Kuwait’s Zain Premier League for the 2025–2026 season, where Kuwait SC sealed the title with a win over Al Qadsia SC.
The match was watched by Sheikh Ahmad Al-Yousef Al-Sabah, chairman of the Kuwait Football Association.
The recognition also comes as Artan prepares for another high-profile appointment: UEFA has invited him to officiate the 2026 Super Cup final between PSG and Aston Villa in Austria on 12 August.
Entry denial
Artan’s profile rose sharply after authorities in the United States, one of the co-hosts of the FIFA World Cup, stopped him from entering the country to officiate at the tournament, which runs from 11 June to 19 July across Canada, Mexico and the US.
He was turned away at Miami International Airport even though he held a valid visa, a diplomatic passport and FIFA credentials. US officials said the decision was based on “vetting concerns”.
Back in Mogadishu, Artan was greeted like a national hero, while FIFA said it would pay him in full despite his absence from the competition.
Had he taken part, he would have become the first Somali referee ever to officiate at a World Cup.
Born in Mogadishu in 1992, Artan began refereeing in Somalia’s domestic leagues before earning FIFA listing in 2018. Since then, he has broken new ground, becoming the first Somali official to referee a CAF Champions League final, taking charge at AFCON 2025 and being named CAF’s Africa Men’s Referee of the Year for 2025.
