Somali referee Omar Artan, who was denied entry to the United States ahead of the World Cup, returned to a hero’s welcome in Mogadishu on Wednesday and vowed to officiate at the next tournament in 2030.
More than 100 supporters gathered outside the VIP section of Mogadishu’s main airport, waving national flags and cheering as Artan arrived on a Turkish Airlines flight.
“I will be at the next World Cup and will continue to make Somalia proud… Despite what has happened to me, I am not discouraged,” Artan told journalists on arrival.
His exclusion has sparked widespread anger in Somalia.
“They wronged him in a way that hurts everybody who is concerned about humanity,” said Mohamed Said, a Mogadishu government official, speaking at the airport.
Artan, who was named Confederation of African Football (CAF) Men’s Referee of the Year in 2025, was denied entry to the United States on Saturday after arriving at Miami International Airport.
A US State Department official told AFP that the referee was deemed “associated with suspected members of terrorist organizations”, rendering him ineligible for admission.
FIFA later confirmed that he would no longer officiate at the World Cup, which is set to begin on Thursday across Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
Artan’s inclusion in the 52-member refereeing panel for the tournament had been a major source of national pride in Somalia.
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud had earlier described him as “a symbol of inspiration for the new generation of Somalis” in April.
AFP
