Somali World Cup referee denied entry to US arrives home to hero’s welcome

AP ^ | 06/10/2026 | OMAR FARUK

[DFG]

A World Cup referee from Somalia who was denied entry to the United States was received by a crowd of supporters and officials Wednesday as he arrived home in the capital of Mogadishu, where he said he plans to be at the next World Cup and urged Somali youth to be proud of their country.

Omar Artan was set to be the first referee from Somalia to officiate at a World Cup after making FIFA’s final list for the tournament. He is one of Africa’s top referees and was named the continent’s best male referee in 2025.

He was denied entry at Miami International Airport on Saturday over “vetting concerns,” U.S. Customs and Border Protection said in a statement, without giving details of the concerns. FIFA subsequently cut him from the tournament’s referee list.

Artan was issued a visa to travel to the U.S. last week, according to the Somalia Embassy in Kenya, which processed it. The U.S. is co-hosting with Mexico and Canada, and Artan was due to meet up with other World Cup referees at their training base in Miami.

He returned to a hero’s welcome in Mogadishu, where he thanked the Somali government and people as well as FIFA for their support for him.

“I promise you, God willing, that I will attend the next one,” he said as hundreds of supporters at the airport waved Somali flags. “I want the Somali public to take comfort in this and remain confident.”

Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre hosted Artan on Wednesday, writing on X that the referee “already won the hearts of millions and secured his place in history.”

“He devoted himself to ensuring that football was decided by merit, yet fate denied him the stage he so richly deserved,” Barre said.

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TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: omarartan; soccer; somali; worldcup

[Texas Eagle]

And a suitcase full of cash courtesy of Tim Walz.

[DFG]

Omar Artan has ties to the al-Shabab militant group which is the largest, wealthiest, and most lethal al-Qaeda affiliate globally. They are designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. State Department, it actively destabilizes the Horn of Africa through bombings, assassinations, and extortion.

[PGalt]

Thanks for posting.

[Jolla]

“FIFA subsequently cut him from the tournament’s referee list.
he thanked .... FIFA for their support for him.”

They cut, thank you for your support???? Kind of odd.

[No name given]

Very.

[Red6]

maybe Ilhan Omar can marry him so he can come in?

That would always be an option.

Sarc-

[delchiante]

Maybe we can start a trend of this after the World Cup.

The GTFO phase of a closed border..

[DFG]

https://notthebee.com/article/canadian-leaders-offer-invites-to-somali-referee-with-ties-to-al-qaeda-after-he-was-denied-entry-to-the-us/ Toronto mayor says Somali FIFA referee deemed inadmissible to U.S. would be welcome in the city https://x.com/CP24/status/2064458784118919643 Here's Mayor Chow: "Denying entry to Omar Artan, who has earned his place on the world stage through hard work and perseverance, is not right. Toronto believes in fairness, inclusion, and giving talent the opportunity to shine. He would be welcome to referee here in our city. I will be writing to FIFA to let them know he is welcome to referee here." British Columbia also wants to bring him in. From Premier David Eby:

[DFG]

https://notthebee.com/article/canadian-leaders-offer-invites-to-somali-referee-with-ties-to-al-qaeda-after-he-was-denied-entry-to-the-us/

[DFG]

Toronto mayor says Somali FIFA referee deemed inadmissible to U.S. would be welcome in the city

https://x.com/CP24/status/2064458784118919643

[DFG]

Here’s Toronto Mayor Chow:

“Denying entry to Omar Artan, who has earned his place on the world stage through hard work and perseverance, is not right. Toronto believes in fairness, inclusion, and giving talent the opportunity to shine. He would be welcome to referee here in our city. I will be writing to FIFA to let them know he is welcome to referee here.”

[mrmeyer]

The only thing in Somalia worth being proud of are the bones of the dead somalis killed by US military forces

[Resolute Conservative]

Globalist cuck.

[CdMGuy]

One more reason to thank God that Canada is not, and never will be, our 51st state. On the other hand, if Alberta escapes, it would be welcome to apply to join us.

[Mouton]

Should have sent him home with some blankets

[Organic Panic]

I am sure the Somali “community” has a bull pen of young Somali girls (freshly cut so they are “clean”) who will be forced to marry any of these thugs to get them in the country. It is a sick culture that must be all sent back. Every one of them.

[Organic Panic]

“He devoted himself to ensuring that football was decided by merit”

What an odd thing to say... This must have thrown the democrats in to fits of cognitive dissonance.

[silverleaf]

There ya go