“They Shattered My World Cup Dream” — Somali Referee Omar Artan Speaks Out After U.S. Entry Denial

MOGADISHU, June 9 — Somali international referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan has spoken publicly for the first time about being denied entry to the United States, saying the decision destroyed what he described as the greatest dream of his life and deprived Somalia of a historic moment at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

In an interview with The New York Times, Artan said officiating at football's biggest tournament would have been a milestone not only for himself but for all Somalis.

“I had the right papers and everything required for me to enter the United States,” Artan said in his first interview since being turned back at Miami International Airport in Florida.

The referee has since returned to Turkey and is expected to travel back to Somalia in the coming days.

Artan was set to become the first Somali citizen to officiate matches at a FIFA World Cup, a landmark achievement for a country that has long struggled to gain representation at the highest levels of international football. But that ambition was cut short after U.S. authorities denied him entry despite his valid travel documents.

“I was very, very disappointed when I was sent back,” Artan told the newspaper from Istanbul, where he was flown after being refused admission. “I am simply a referee trying to live his dream — to come to the World Cup.”

According to Artan, he presented immigration officials with official documentation issued by FIFA, including accreditation materials and evidence of his more than a decade-long refereeing career. He said border officials also conducted online searches related to his professional background.

Despite those efforts, he was not allowed to enter the country.

The case has drawn attention across Somalia, where officials and football supporters have expressed disappointment over the decision. FIFA has previously stated that immigration matters remain the responsibility of host-country authorities and are beyond the organization's control.

Artan is one of Africa's most highly regarded referees. In 2025, he was named the Confederation of African Football's Referee of the Year, recognition that cemented his status among the continent's elite match officials and paved the way for his selection to the World Cup officiating team.

For many Somalis, his anticipated appearance at the tournament was seen as a rare symbol of national achievement on the global sporting stage. Instead, Artan's World Cup journey ended before it began, leaving what he described as a lifelong dream unfulfilled.

GAROWE ONLINE