Somali World Cup referee denied entry to US arrives home to hero’s welcome

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — A Somali World Cup referee who was denied entry to the United States arrived in the Somali capital of Mogadishu on Wednesday, where he was greeted by a crowd of fans and officials.

Ömer Artan has been determined Somali chief referee He will officiate at the World Cup after FIFA makes its final list for the tournament. He is one of the best referees in Africa and was voted the best male referee on the continent in 2025.

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He was denied entry to Miami International Airport on Saturday due to “vetting concerns.” US Customs and Border Protection he said in a statement, without providing details of those concerns. FIFA later cut it From the referee list of the tournament.

Artan was granted a visa to travel to the United States last week, according to the Somali Embassy in Kenya, which processed the application.

He received a hero’s welcome at the airport in Mogadishu and thanked the Somali government and people, as well as FIFA, for their support.

“I promise to attend the next one, God willing,” he said, as hundreds of supporters at the airport waved the Somali flag. “I want the Somali people to be comfortable and confident about this.” The highly unusual move by the United States to deny FIFA-appointed match official permission to enter the World Cup host country has sparked worldwide outrage and raised questions among some fans about America’s capacity to host the competition.

Somalia is one of nearly 40 countries subject to new travel restrictions from the Trump administration pressure on immigration.