Omar Artan, the World Cup referee from Somalia who was denied entry to the United States, arrived on Wednesday in Mogadishu, the country's capital, where he was greeted by a cheering crowd of supporters and government officials.
Hero's Welcome in Mogadishu
Artan was draped in a Somali flag upon his arrival, a moment captured by photographer Feisal Omar. He had been scheduled to become the first Somali referee to officiate at a World Cup after being named to FIFA's final list of officials for the tournament. Artan is widely regarded as one of Africa's top referees and was honored as the continent's best male referee in 2025.
Denied Entry at Miami Airport
However, on Saturday, Artan was denied entry at Miami International Airport due to what U.S. Customs and Border Protection described as "vetting concerns." The agency did not provide specific details regarding these concerns. As a result, FIFA removed him from the tournament's referee list. The Somali embassy in Kenya, which processed Artan's visa, confirmed that he had been issued a valid visa to travel to the United States just last week.
Promise to Return
Addressing the crowd of hundreds of supporters waving Somali flags at Mogadishu's airport, Artan expressed his gratitude to the Somali government, the Somali people, and FIFA for their unwavering support. "I promise you, God willing, that I will attend the next one," he declared, urging the Somali public to take comfort in his experience and remain confident in their nation's representation on the global stage.
