Somali male referee missed his World Cup debut and returned home disappointed.

Omar Abdulkadir Artan, a Somali who was named the 2025 CAF Referee of the Year, recently expressed his gratitude to FIFA, CAF, and the Somali people as he prepared to return home.

Previously, Altan missed the opportunity to make his historic debut at the World Cup after being denied entry to the United States. Altan was originally expected to become the first Somali referee to officiate at the World Cup.

A FIFA spokesperson confirmed that Altan will be unable to participate in referee training or officiate at the tournament after being denied entry to the United States upon arrival at Miami International Airport over the weekend.

Because FIFA Referees Committee Chairman Collina established a unified referee training center in Miami, all referees must remain at the US base for security and logistical reasons. This also prevented Altan from traveling to Mexico and Canada to officiate.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection revealed that a Somali citizen was denied entry after undergoing routine additional screening due to concerns about vetting. Media reports indicate that Altan held a valid visa at the time, but the current U.S. government had previously imposed a travel ban on citizens of 12 countries, including Somalia.

The Somali government and football association had previously attempted emergency negotiations with the United States and FIFA, but were unsuccessful. The Somali Ministry of Sports issued a statement emphasizing that Altan's international achievements are a source of pride for the Somali people. FIFA stated that the organization cannot interfere in the host country's immigration procedures.

Image source: Internet