Video: Somali referee Omar Artan gets hero’s welcome in Mogadishu after US bars entry ahead of 2026 World Cup
Abdullateef Fowewe
Somali referee, Omar Artan, also known as Mohamed Atan, received a large, celebratory reception in Mogadishu on Wednesday after being denied entry to the United States at Miami International Airport and consequently barred from officiating at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Artan, 34, who would have become the first Somali to officiate at a World Cup, was reportedly refused admission by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) despite holding a valid visa.
U.S. officials stated that he had been flagged by derogatory information, including alleged associations with members of a suspected terrorist organisation, rendering him inadmissible under the Immigration and Nationality Act.
CBP has not released further details citing security protocols.
News of the exclusion prompted an immediate and polarised response online and at home.
Crowds gathered at the airport in Mogadishu to greet Artan with chants, cheers, and banners praising his resilience and celebrating the symbolic significance of his return.
Supporters described the episode as an unsuccessful attempt to “break” him and declaring Artan among Africa’s top referees.
