Somali referee Omar Artan, who was denied entry by the United States to the 2026 World Cup, was received like a hero upon his return to Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, and promised that he will be at the next edition of the tournament, in 2030.
More than 100 fans waited outside the VIP area of the Somali capital’s main airport, waving the country’s flags, when Artan disembarked to applause from a Turkish Airlines flight.
“I will be at the next World Cup and I will continue to make Somalia proud… Despite what happened to me, I am not unmotivated,” Artan told the press.
“He was treated so unfairly that it hurts anyone concerned about humanity,” said Mohamed Said, a government official.
Artan, who in 2025 was elected the best male football referee by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), was prevented from entering the United States on Saturday (6), when he landed at Miami International Airport.
A spokesperson for the US State Department told AFP on Tuesday (9) that Artan “is suspected of being linked to alleged members of terrorist organizations”, which “disqualifies the traveler from being admitted to the United States”.
FIFA (International Football Federation) confirmed that he will not be part of the referee panel for the World Cup, which starts on Thursday (11).
Artan’s presence among the 52 referees selected to work at the 2026 World Cup, organized by the United States, Mexico and Canada, was a source of pride for his compatriots.
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud declared in April that Artan was “a symbol of inspiration for a new generation of Somalis.”
