Somali referee Omar Artan receives hero’s welcome in Mogadishu after World Cup setback

Somali international referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan was given a hero’s welcome in Mogadishu after being denied entry into the United States, where he had been scheduled to take part in preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Artan, who had been selected by FIFA to officiate at the tournament, arrived at Adan Abdulle International Airport on Wednesday morning to hundreds of supporters and officials who gathered to receive him.

He was draped in the Somali flag as crowds celebrated his achievement despite the disappointment of his exclusion from the tournament.

The referee had been poised to make history as the first Somali official selected for a FIFA World Cup.

However, his participation was cut short after United States authorities denied him entry in Miami, citing unspecified “vetting concerns,” according to reports.

Following the decision, FIFA confirmed that Artan would be unable to continue in the tournament preparations, which require referees to attend centralized training and technical sessions in the United States ahead of the competition.

Despite the setback, Artan struck an optimistic tone, saying he remains focused on his career.

“Despite the circumstances, I am in a positive mood, and I am focused on the next challenges in my refereeing career,” he said.

Back home, his arrival sparked emotional scenes as Somali residents turned out in large numbers to celebrate his achievement and express solidarity with the referee, whose World Cup dream was halted at the final stage.

Artan’s supporters say his selection alone was a historic milestone for Somali football and a sign of growing recognition of refereeing talent from the region, despite the disappointment of missing out on the tournament itself.

A senior adviser to Somalia's ministry of youth and sports confirmed the denial of entry to the BBC and said Artan had been travelling with valid documents.

A Somali embassy official in Nairobi told the BBC that Artan's diplomatic passport had been issued specifically to ease his travel after earlier visa difficulties.

The Somali Football Federation (SFF) has contacted Fifa seeking urgent clarification.

Speaking to BBC World Service, Andrew Giuliani, who leads the White House Task Force on the World Cup, said: "While I can't go into the derog [derogatory information] on that I can tell you it was the right decision by customs and border patrol and I support that decision."

Artan was among the 52 referees announced by Fifa to officiate at the World Cup finals in Canada, Mexico and the United States, which runs from 11 June to 19 July.

An official in the Somali national football league championships, Artan became a Fifa referee in 2018 and has officiated at the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon).