Mogadishu

Somalia's celebrated football referee Omar Artan returned home to a rousing reception in Mogadishu on Wednesday after being denied entry into the United States, a setback that ended his hopes of officiating at the ongoing World Cup.

Artan had been on course to make history as the first Somali referee selected to oversee matches at a FIFA World Cup, having secured a place on the governing body's final list of match officials. Widely regarded as one of Africa's finest referees, he was also honoured as the continent's Best Male Referee in 2025.

However, his journey was cut short when US Customs and Border Protection denied him entry at Miami International Airport on Saturday, citing unspecified "vetting concerns". No further details regarding the decision were made public, and FIFA subsequently removed him from the tournament's roster of officials.

According to the Somali Embassy in Kenya, Artan had received a valid US visa just days before his scheduled travel.

Despite the disappointment, hundreds of supporters gathered at Mogadishu airport to welcome him back, waving Somali flags and hailing him as a national hero. Government officials and football enthusiasts joined the reception, applauding his achievements and resilience.

Addressing the crowd, Artan expressed gratitude to the Somali people, the government and FIFA for standing by him during the ordeal.

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"God willing, I will make it to the next World Cup," he said confidently. "I want the Somali people to remain hopeful and continue believing in me."