Somali World Cup referee denied U.S. entry arrives home to hero’s welcome

By  OMAR FARUKWednesday June 10, 2026

When Omar Artan stepped off the plane in Mogadishu on Wednesday, he was met not as a disappointed official but as a national symbol — a Somali World Cup referee whose journey to football’s biggest stage had been abruptly halted by the United States.

Artan, who had been poised to become the first referee from Somalia to officiate at a World Cup after landing on FIFA’s final tournament list, told the cheering crowd in Somalia’s capital that his dream was far from over. A leading figure in African refereeing, he was also recognized as the continent’s best male referee in 2025.

He was turned away at Miami International Airport on Saturday because of what U.S. Customs and Border Protection described only as “vetting concerns,” without offering further detail. Soon after, FIFA removed him from the tournament’s referee roster.

According to the Somalia Embassy in Kenya, which handled his paperwork, Artan had received his U.S. visa last week. The United States is co-hosting the World Cup with Mexico and Canada, and Artan had been expected to join fellow referees at their training base in Miami.

Back home, his return turned into a show of solidarity. At Aden Adde International Airport, supporters, officials and members of Somalia’s football community gathered hours early to welcome him, with many waving Somali flags as he arrived at about 8:30 a.m. local time.

Artan thanked the Somali government, the public and FIFA for standing by him, then delivered a defiant message to the crowd.

“I promise you, God willing, that I will attend the next one,” he said as hundreds of supporters filled the airport. “I want the Somali public to take comfort in this and remain confident.”

The decision by the U.S. to bar a FIFA-appointed official from entering a World Cup host country was highly unusual and triggered anger internationally, while also prompting questions from some fans about whether the United States was prepared to host the tournament.

Somalia is among nearly 40 countries affected by new travel restrictions introduced under the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.

Hundreds of people had assembled long before Artan landed, including government officials and representatives of Somalia’s football establishment. When he emerged, supporters surged forward, wrapped him in the Somali flag and followed him as police escorted him to the airport’s VIP terminal.

There, he was received by Somalia’s Minister of Youth and Sports, Somalia Football Federation officials and other dignitaries before speaking briefly to journalists.

“It is up to all of us to defend the Somali name,” Artan said. “Somalia belongs to us, whether it is in a bad state or a good state. That flag belongs to us, and that passport belongs to us.”

In a nation shaped by years of conflict and the grip of the al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab extremist group, Artan’s exclusion disappointed many. Yet for others, it also underscored how far a Somali can rise — and what can still be achieved despite the country’s hardships.

World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Tuesday on X that Artan’s World Cup breakthrough “stands no matter what.” “You reached the summit of your profession and inspired a generation back home just by getting there, and being kept off the pitch you earned doesn’t change that,” he added.