Somali referee Omar Artan returns to Mogadishu after US visa denial removes him from World Cup roster

Omar Artan arrived in Mogadishu on Wednesday to a reception described as a hero’s welcome, following his exclusion from the 2026 FIFA World Cup officiating roster. The Somali referee was denied entry to the United States at Miami International Airport on Saturday, a decision that effectively ended his participation in the tournament despite his inclusion on FIFA’s final list.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection cited unspecified "vetting concerns" for the denial, providing no further details regarding the nature of the security review. Artan had been issued a visa to travel to the United States the previous week, a process facilitated by the Somali Embassy in Kenya. The denial occurred despite Artan being named the 2025 Confederation of African Football referee of the year and having previously become the first person from Somalia to referee a continental final in 2024.

FIFA confirmed it would not challenge the decision, acknowledging that host nations retain final authority over visa admissions. Consequently, Artan was removed from the tournament's referee list. The incident has drawn formal criticism from the Somali football federation, which has publicly rebuked the United States government for the visa refusal.

Upon his return to Mogadishu, Artan was greeted by hundreds of supporters waving the Somali flag. He expressed gratitude to the Somali government, the public, and FIFA for their support during the incident. Addressing the crowd, he stated, “I want the Somali public to take comfort in this and remain confident.”

Looking beyond the current tournament, Artan pledged to continue his officiating career. “I promise you, God willing, that I will attend the next one,” he said. The specific grounds for the vetting concerns remain undefined in available reports, leaving the administrative and legal implications of the denial open to interpretation within the context of international travel scrutiny.