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I’ll be at next World Cup in 2030 - Somali referee from US

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News From a news agency Outcome reported
  • Somali referee Omar Artan vowed to officiate at the 2030 World Cup after being denied entry to the US for the current tournament.
  • Artan received a hero's welcome in Mogadishu, with supporters expressing outrage over his exclusion.
  • US officials cited suspected links to terrorist organizations as the reason for barring him from entry.

Somali referee Omar Artan, who was prevented from entering the United States for the World Cup, has returned to Mogadishu and declared his intention to officiate at the 2030 tournament. Over 100 supporters greeted him at the airport, waving national flags and cheering his arrival.

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.

— Omar ArtanSpeaking to journalists upon his return to Mogadishu after being denied entry to the US for the World Cup.

"I will be at the next World Cup and will continue to make Somalia proud," Artan told journalists. "Despite what has happened to me, I am not discouraged." His exclusion from the US has caused significant anger in Somalia.

Mohamed Said, a Mogadishu government official, stated at the airport that Artan was wronged in a manner that offends humanity. Artan, recognized as the Confederation of African Football's (CAF) men's referee of the year in 2025, was denied entry to the US on Saturday after arriving at Miami International Airport.

They wronged him in a way that hurts everybody that is concerned about humanity.

— Mohamed SaidA Mogadishu government official, speaking at the airport about Artan's exclusion.

A US State Department official informed AFP that Artan was deemed ineligible for admission due to suspected associations with members of terrorist organizations. FIFA confirmed his removal from the World Cup referee roster.

making the traveler ineligible for admission to the United States

— US State Department officialExplaining the reason for barring Artan from entering the US.

Artan's selection for the 52-referee roster for the tournament in Canada, Mexico, and the United States had been a source of national pride. Somalia's President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud had called him "a symbol of inspiration for the new generation of Somalis."

a symbol of inspiration for the new generation of Somalis.

— Hassan Sheikh MohamudSomalia's president, describing Omar Artan.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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