A World Cup referee from Somalia, Omar Artan, was met by a crowd of supporters and officials in Mogadishu on Wednesday after being denied entry to the United States.
Artan, who was set to become the first Somali referee to officiate at a World Cup, had been included on FIFA’s final list for the tournament and was recognized as Africa’s top male referee in 2025.
His denial of entry occurred at Miami International Airport on Saturday due to “vetting concerns,” according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which did not elaborate on the specifics.
Following the incident, FIFA removed him from the tournament’s referee roster.
Artan reported being held in custody and interrogated for 11 hours during his ordeal, despite having been issued a visa last week by the Somalia Embassy in Kenya.
Returning to a hero’s welcome at Mogadishu airport, Artan expressed gratitude to the Somali government, its people, and FIFA for their support. “I promise you, God willing, that I will attend the next one,” he declared to hundreds of flag-waving supporters.
“I want the Somali public to take comfort in this and remain confident.” The U.S. decision to bar a FIFA-appointed match official from entering a World Cup host country sparked international outrage and prompted questions among some fans regarding America’s capacity to host the competition.
Somalia is among nearly 40 nations affected by new travel restrictions implemented under the Trump administration’s immigration policies.
