Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan has spoken publicly for the first time after US authorities denied him entry ahead of World Cup 2026. FIFA selected the Somali official to referee at the tournament, but immigration officers stopped him upon arrival in Miami and forced him to return because of restrictions affecting Somali citizens.
Despite the disappointment, Omar Artan refused to show bitterness. The referee thanked FIFA, CAF, and the football community for the strong support he received after the incident. He explained that he wants to stay focused on his refereeing career and hopes to reunite with his colleagues at future international competitions.
βDespite the circumstances, I am in good spirits and focused on the upcoming challenges of my career. I would like to thank the football family, FIFA and CAF (Confederation of African Football) for all their support and I promise to continue to progress and focus on the future,β he said in a statement obtained by Globoesporte.
The situation sparked reactions in both football and political circles. White House World Cup crisis manager Andrew Giuliani supported the decision taken by US Customs and Border Protection, although he expressed regret over the outcome. FIFA had not yet assigned specific World Cup matches to Omar Artan before the authorities blocked his entry into the United States.
