Sunday July 5, 2026
Nairobi (AX) — Omar Abdulkadir Artan’s World Cup dream was halted at the border, but in Nairobi on Friday, the Somali FIFA referee was received as a trailblazer whose story still reached far beyond the pitch.
Hundreds of supporters, among them government officials, football administrators, diplomats and members of the Somali community, gathered at BBS Mall in Eastleigh to welcome Artan after he was denied a U.S. entry visa to officiate at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The reception honoured Artan’s rise in international refereeing despite the setback that kept him from taking his place at football’s most watched tournament.
Addressing the crowd, Artan expressed gratitude to Kenyans for standing with him, saying support from the Football Kenya Federation and the wider Kenyan football fraternity had been central to his development.
“FKF was helping me without them knowing because they provided me with assistance,” Artan said. “There is assistance from Kenya. Kenyans and Somalis are always like this, and for me they are really part of my journey.”
Artan said the disappointment had not shaken his focus, adding that he was already preparing for future assignments, including the UEFA Super Cup scheduled for August in Austria.
He encouraged young Africans to keep pushing forward when confronted by adversity.
“I did not give up. You also cannot give up in any way of life,” he said. “If you find hundreds of problems, find one solution that you can continue.”
Kenya’s Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, who led the reception, called Artan a figure of determination and said his progress had become a source of inspiration for young people across East Africa.
Duale said Artan had already written his name into history as the first Somali referee selected to officiate at the World Cup, even though circumstances ultimately prevented him from participating.
He called on young people to stay devoted to their ambitions in the face of barriers and pointed to Kenya’s ongoing investment in sports infrastructure as part of efforts to nurture talent.
Football Kenya Federation President Hussein Mohammed commended Artan’s resolve and said Kenyan football would continue working with the Somali official.
“FKF is ready to work with you,” Hussein said. “Thank you for incorporating local referees into your programmes and plans, and I know some of them have been with you on this journey.”
Among the leaders present were Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi, Somalia’s Ambassador to Kenya Jabril Abdulle, Dadaab MP Farah Maalim, Kamukunji MP Yusuf Hassan and BBS Mall Chairman Abdiweli Maalim.
Artan had been named to an elite group of 52 match officials for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, becoming the first Somali referee to earn the landmark appointment.
His role at the tournament ended before it began after he was denied entry into the United States.
Artan is also expected to be among the officials considered by the Confederation of African Football for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, offering him another chance to work at one of the continent’s premier football competitions.
