Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan has called it “unfortunate” after being denied entry into the United States, forcing him to miss the FIFA World Cup 2026 despite being selected to officiate.
Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan devastated after FIFA World Cup 2026 entry denial. Photo credit: FIFA
Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan has spoken publicly for the first time after being denied entry into the United States, calling the incident “unfortunate” while expressing gratitude for the support he received from FIFA.
Artan, who was set to become the first Somali official to referee at a FIFA World Cup, arrived back in Mogadishu on Wednesday after US authorities prevented him from entering the country ahead of the 2026 tournament.
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Addressing reporters after his return to Somalia, the 2025 African Referee of the Year chose a message of resilience rather than disappointment.
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“What happened has happened, and it was unfortunate. I am grateful for the support FIFA gave me,” Artan said, according to Reuters.
He also urged young Somalis to remain optimistic about their future.
“Somalia is ours, whether things are good or bad. I want to tell our youth not to lose hope in our country. I am now in my country, and there is no other place I want to be,” he added.
According to Reuters, the Trump administration said on Tuesday that Artan was denied entry because of his links to suspected members of terrorist organisations.
Earlier, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) had stated that a Somali national arriving at Miami International Airport from Istanbul was refused entry due to “vetting concerns.”
An administration official later said the individual had been assessed as a potential national security risk.
FIFA had earlier announced a list of 52 referees and 88 assistant referees selected for the 2026 World Cup.
However, following the US decision, a FIFA spokesperson confirmed that Artan will no longer be able to train or officiate during the tournament, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.
The Somali government said it made unsuccessful attempts to engage with both the United States and FIFA in an effort to secure Artan’s entry before the tournament begins.
His absence marks a major disappointment for Somali football, as Artan had been on the verge of making history by becoming the country’s first referee to officiate at football’s biggest global event.
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