Somali referee was close to fulfilling his dream of officiating at the World Cup, was barred in the USA and returned home welcomed as a hero in Somalia

Written by Romário Pereira de Carvalho

Published on 11/06/2026 at 08:44

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After being barred at Miami airport and missing the 2026 World Cup, Omar Artan was welcomed by fans in Mogadishu, stated he will remain motivated, and affirmed he intends to represent Somalia in 2030

Somali referee Omar Artan was welcomed as a hero in Mogadishu after being denied entry by the United States for the 2026 World Cup. Selected among the 52 referees of the tournament, he will no longer be part of the FIFA panel and stated he intends to be in the 2030 edition.

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Reception in Mogadishu featured flags and applause

More than 100 fans awaited Omar Artan outside the VIP area of the main airport in the Somali capital. He landed on a Turkish Airlines flight and was greeted with applause and Somali flags.

To the press, Artan said he is not demotivated by the episode. “I will be at the next World Cup and will continue to make Somalia proud,” he declared.

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Entry to the United States was denied in Miami

Artan was prevented from entering the United States on Saturday, upon landing at Miami International Airport.

According to a State Department spokesperson, he is “suspected of being linked to alleged members of terrorist organizations.”

FIFA confirmed that the referee will not participate in the World Cup, which will be organized by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

Referee was a source of pride for Somalia

In 2025, Omar Artan was elected the best male football referee by the African Football Confederation. His selection for the 2026 World Cup had been celebrated in the country.

The President of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, stated in April that Artan was “a symbol of inspiration for a new generation of Somalis.”

This article was prepared based on information from AFP and FIFA, with data, numbers, and statements preserved as per the consulted material.

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Somali referee was close to fulfilling his dream of officiating at the World Cup, was barred in the USA and returned home welcomed as a hero in Somalia

After being barred at Miami airport and missing the 2026 World Cup, Omar Artan was welcomed by fans in Mogadishu, stated he will remain motivated, and affirmed he intends to represent Somalia in 2030

Reception in Mogadishu featured flags and applause

Entry to the United States was denied in Miami

Referee was a source of pride for Somalia

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Somali referee was close to fulfilling his dream of officiating at the World Cup, was barred in the USA and returned home welcomed as a hero in Somalia

After being barred at Miami airport and missing the 2026 World Cup, Omar Artan was welcomed by fans in Mogadishu, stated he will remain motivated, and affirmed he intends to represent Somalia in 2030

Reception in Mogadishu featured flags and applause

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Referee was a source of pride for Somalia

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A giant brown band visible from space, approximately 8,850 kilometers long, connected Africa to America in the Atlantic Ocean, and satellites revealed that it is neither land nor pollution, but the largest accumulation of seaweed in the world, which broke records in 2025.

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