Somali Referee Omar Artan Says U.S. Entry Denial Shattered His World Cup Dream

MOGADISHU, June 9 — Somali international referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan has broken his silence after being refused entry to the United States, saying the rejection wiped out the biggest ambition of his career and denied Somalia a landmark role at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Speaking to The New York Times, Artan said taking part in football’s premier tournament would have meant more than a personal victory; in his view, it would have been a moment of pride for an entire nation.

“I had the right papers and everything required for me to enter the United States,” Artan said in his first interview since he was turned away at Miami International Airport in Florida.

He has since returned to Turkey and is expected to head back to Somalia in the coming days.

Artan was poised to become the first Somali citizen to officiate at a FIFA World Cup, a breakthrough for a country that has long had limited representation at the highest levels of international football. That prospect ended after U.S. authorities denied him entry, even though he said he held valid travel documents.

“I was very, very disappointed when I was sent back,” Artan told the newspaper from Istanbul, where he was flown after being refused admission. “I am simply a referee trying to live his dream — to come to the World Cup.”

Artan said he showed immigration officials official FIFA-issued paperwork, including accreditation materials and proof of his more than 10 years in refereeing. He added that border officials also searched online for information about his professional record.

Even so, he was not permitted into the country.

The episode has sparked concern in Somalia, where officials and football fans have voiced frustration over the outcome. FIFA has previously said that immigration decisions are handled by host-country authorities and fall outside the organization’s control.

Artan ranks among Africa’s most respected referees. In 2025, he was named the Confederation of African Football’s Referee of the Year, an honor that underscored his standing among the continent’s top match officials and helped secure his place on the World Cup officiating team.

For many Somalis, his expected presence at the tournament represented a rare chance to see the country recognized on sport’s biggest stage. Instead, Artan’s World Cup hopes were halted before they began, leaving him with what he called a dream that will remain unfulfilled.

AXADLETM