Omar Artan, the Somali referee who was denied entry into the United States (U.S) for World Cup officiating duties, received a heroic welcome as he arrived in Mogadishu on Wednesday, June 10.
Artan was received by an ethusiastic crowd at the Aden Adde International Airport after his dreams of becoming the first referee from Somalia to officiate at a FIFA World Cup were dashed by U.S authorities.
Speaking to journalists at the airport in Somalia capital, Artan slammed the decision to block him from entering the U.S for the World Cup.
“What happened has happened and it was unfortunate. I am grateful for the support FIFA gave me,” Artan said, urging his supporters and Somalian youth not to lose hope in their country. “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.”
The 33-year-old referee, who was named Africa’s best in 2025, added: “I promise you, God willing, that I will attend the next one. I want the Somali public to take comfort in this and remain confident.”
Entry denied!
Speaking on Tuesday, June 9 night, the Executive Director of the White House Task Force on the FIFA World Cup 2026, Andrew Giuliani, said Artan was refused admission for a “very good reason”, but declined to offer additional details.
“While I can’t go into the derog on that I can tell you it was right decision by customs and border patrol and I support that decision,” Giuliani told the BBC.
Put on a plane back to Instanbul
A U.S official says that Artan was denied entry into the U.S because of links to suspected members of terrorist organisations. The 33-year-old referee was interrogated by border officials at Miami International Airport for 11 hours Saturday, briefly held in a jail cell before being forced to leave the U.S.
Customs and Border Protection officers claimed that Artan was blocked over “vetting concerns”.
Reports now indicate that he was questioned over Somalia politics and the Al Shabaab terrorist organisation, a group that in 2022, the U.S Africa Command (AFRICOM) described as “the largest, wealthiest, and most lethal Al Qaeda affiliate”.
