Somali referee Omar Artan has vowed to return stronger after being denied entry to the United States ahead of the World Cup, saying he remains determined to officiate at the 2030 tournament.
Artan received a hero’s welcome in Mogadishu, where more than 100 supporters gathered at the airport, waving national flags and celebrating his return. Speaking to journalists, he said: “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.”
The referee, who was named CAF Men’s Referee of the Year in 2025, was barred from entering the US after arriving at Miami International Airport, with a US State Department official stating he was “associated with suspected members of terrorist organisations,” making him ineligible for admission.
FIFA later confirmed he would no longer participate in the upcoming World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
The decision has sparked strong reactions in Somalia, with officials and supporters describing Artan as a national inspiration and questioning the fairness of the ruling.
Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud had earlier praised him as “a symbol of inspiration for the new generation of Somalis.”
Despite the setback, Artan insists his ambition remains unchanged: a return to the world’s biggest football stage in 2030.
