Mogadishu, Somalia – Barely a few days had passed between the celebrations that greeted news of Somali referee Omar Artan’s journey to the World Cup—a milestone that inspired pride and optimism among ...

The Somali government expressed "deep regret" on Tuesday after award-winning Somali referee Omar Artan was barred from entering the United States and dropped from officiating at the World Cup. Artan, ...

Omar Abdulkadir Artan, who is widely admired in his home country, would have been the first Somali to referee a World Cup game. By Hussein Mohamed Reporting from Mogadishu, Somalia A Somali soccer ...

A top Somali referee will not officiate at the World Cup after being denied entry into the US. Omar Artan, who was set to become the ‌first Somali to officiate at a World Cup match, was stopped by US ...

Omar Artan, a referee from Somalia, received a hero’s welcome upon his return to Mogadishu after being denied entry to the United States for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The homecoming saw crowds of ...

Somali referee Omar Artan has been denied entry to the United States for the 2026 World Cup, according to a Somali government official and the U.S. government. As a result, FIFA has said that Artan ...

Somalian referee Omar Artan to miss World Cup after US denies 34-year-old a visa to work during tournament; Artan was voted best referee in Africa in 2025, and was set to become first Somali to ...

“I had the right papers and everything,” Omar Abdulkadir Artan said in his first interview since he was turned back. He would have been the first Somali to referee a game in the tournament. By Matthew ...

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The United States have issued a statement after Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan was denied entry ahead of the World Cup. The official, who was selected as one of 52 referees for this summer’s ...

Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan will not take part in this summer’s World Cup after he was denied entry into the United States, FIFA confirmed on Monday. When asked about Artan’s case, a US ...

U.S. official says Artan has links to "terror organization" suspects Somalia, SFF express disappointment, seek explanation FIFA says it has no role in immigration ...