Somali referee Omar Artan has vowed to return to football’s biggest stage in 2030 after being barred from entering the United States for the 2026 World Cup, calling the decision “heartbreaking” but refusing to let it end his international career. Artan, who was named the 2025 men’s referee of the year by the Confederation of African Football, would have become the first Somali to officiate at a World Cup after being selected for the expanded 48-team tournament across the US, Canada and Mexico. Instead, his dream was cut short at Miami International Airport, where he said he endured an 11-hour interview with US border officials before being held for several more hours in a detention cell and placed on a flight to Turkey.
Speaking to _The New York Times_, Artan said he was “very, very disappointed” and described the World Cup as “the biggest dream of my life”. He stressed that he had the correct visa and all required paperwork, a claim later confirmed to AFP by a Somali government adviser. A US State Department official alleged that Artan was “associated with suspected members of terrorist organizations,” rendering him ineligible for admission, though no evidence was publicly provided and Artan has denied any such links. The incident has become a flashpoint in wider concerns that US immigration policy under President Donald Trump could disrupt the tournament, with reports of fans, team officials and now match officials being denied entry.
Despite the setback, Artan has told supporters he will not give up on officiating at a World Cup. “I’ll be at next World Cup in 2030,” he said, adding that he remains committed to representing Somalia and African referees on the global stage. The Confederation of African Football had celebrated his selection as a milestone for Somali football, and colleagues have described him as one of the continent’s most respected officials after handling high-profile matches in the Africa Cup of Nations and CAF Champions League.
FIFA has not publicly commented on Artan’s case, but President Gianni Infantino is expected to face questions about it during his pre-tournament press conference in Mexico City. The episode has drawn criticism from human rights groups and players’ unions who warn that visa refusals threaten the universality of the World Cup. For Artan, the focus is now on the 2030 tournament in Spain, Portugal and Morocco, where he hopes to finally take the field. “This is not the end,” he said. “My journey is not over.”
