Somalia’s leading referee, Omar Abdulkadir Artan, has broken his silence after being denied entry into the United States, a setback that ruled him out of officiating at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Artan had been selected among the 52 referees appointed for the tournament co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, and was poised to become the first Somali official to referee at football’s biggest event.
Despite the disappointment, Artan remained optimistic and thanked the football community for its support. He also expressed gratitude to FIFA and Confederation of African Football for standing by him during the difficult period.
The experienced official said he remains focused on future challenges and is determined to maintain high refereeing standards as he pursues further international appointments.
Artan also wished his fellow match officials success at the World Cup and thanked fans and colleagues for their messages of encouragement.
His absence is considered a significant blow to both Somalia and African refereeing representation at the tournament.
