MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — A Somali A soccer referee who was scheduled to referee for the first time in his country. world cup But it was denied entry to the United States Selected as Africa’s Best Referee and highly praised a hero to many in his country.
Omar Altan, 34, was set to become the first Somali-born referee to officiate at a World Cup after making FIFA’s final list for the tournament and bringing years of experience and hard work to soccer’s biggest stage. Mr. Artan’s expected feat brought hope to many in the country of about 19 million people, which is still recovering after decades of instability and civil war.
Artan, who was scheduled to accompany the rest of the World Cup referees at their training base in Miami, was denied entry in an unprecedented move by a host nation in modern soccer history. The United States is co-hosting the event with Mexico and Canada.
Artan was removed from FIFA’s list of World Cup referees. Returned to a hero’s welcome Speaking in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu on Wednesday, he appealed to young people to remain proud of their country.
Here’s what you need to know about Artan.
Joined the military as a FIFA referee
Artan joined the FIFA team as a referee in 2018. He then refereed the team match between Tunisia and Namibia in January 2024, becoming the first Somali to referee at the African Cup of Nations.
In May, he refereed the African Champions League final in Morocco, the continent’s biggest club soccer match.
He is one of Africa’s top referees and was named the African continent’s best male referee in 2025.
How Artan was chosen to host the World Cup
FIFA selects World Cup referees through a lengthy evaluation process overseen by the organization’s officiating staff. Candidates are typically monitored for several years in top international, continental, and national competitions.
For referees to be added to FIFA’s international list and begin officiating in continental tournaments such as the African Cup of Nations, they must first be proposed by their national football association. They are then selected for FIFA-sponsored matches such as World Cup Qualifiers, Youth World Cups, and the Olympics. Altan starred at last year’s Men’s U-20 World Cup in Chile.
The referee judged to be the best referee will be invited to World Cup preparation camps in 2025 and early this year. The final list of referees was announced in April.
Why was he denied entry to the United States?
U.S. Customs and Border Protection “Due to vetting concerns, it was determined that I could not enter the country, and I was refused entry,” Artan said.
U.S. officials later announced that the referee was denied entry due to his “association with suspected members of a terrorist organization.” The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss issues covered by the Visa Privacy Act.
Somalia is one of about 40 countries whose citizens are banned from entering the country under the Trump administration. immigration crackdown And Somali officials say they believe those restrictions may have led to Artan being denied entry.
US President Donald Trump made the following statement: Somalian immigrants in the United States and asked them to leave.
Blocking Artan makes fans furious
FIFA said it was not involved in the immigration process and, as with previous FIFA events, the host country’s government “makes the final decision on who receives a visa and who is allowed entry.”
Still, the decision by a World Cup host country to prevent FIFA-appointed match officials from entering is unprecedented.
Fans took to social media to express their anger at Artan’s decision and similar rulings by immigration authorities. Preparations affected By visiting the team. Online comments have questioned the United States’ ability to host the world championships.
Somali football has grown despite challenges
Somalia’s soccer culture has endured more than 30 years of civil war and political instability.
Soccer remains one of the most popular sports in Somalia and has made significant progress in recent years despite limited resources. The national team is increasing its participation in regional and international competitions. Local leagues have operated during some of the country’s most difficult times, often serving as a source of unity and hope for young people.
The Somali Football Federation says it hosts 22 competitions a year, ranging from youth and regional leagues to the country’s top league, the Somali Premier League, which involves 12 clubs. Despite damage caused by stadiums being occupied by armed groups or used as military bases, domestic tournaments continued in various forms.
The restoration of Mogadishu Stadium, which seats around 65,000 spectators, and the return of large crowds to league matches, symbolize the gradual recovery and the continued unifying role of football in Somali society.
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Mr. Musambi reported from Nairobi, Kenya. Associated Press writers Chinedu Asadu in Abuja, Nigeria, and Graham Dunbar in Geneva contributed.
