Artan Responds to Exclusion: Our Meeting is the 2030 World Cup

In his first reaction following the crisis of being barred from participating in the 2026 World Cup, Somali international referee Omar Artan reaffirmed his full commitment to his dream of appearing in the 2030 World Cup finals, asserting that he will continue his career without retreat despite recent developments.

Artan, who was awarded the Best Referee in Africa for 2025, received a strong shock after being denied entry into the United States upon his arrival at Miami International Airport last Saturday. This disrupted his plans to become the first Somali referee to officiate in World Cup matches in the history of the tournament.

Subsequently, the decision for exclusion was made based on what the American authorities described as security reasons and concerns, before FIFA officially confirmed his removal from the list of referees participating in the current edition of the World Cup, which kicks off tomorrow, Thursday.

Despite this setback, Artan returned to his country to a grand public and official reception in the capital, Mogadishu, on Wednesday morning. He emphasized to the crowds and the media his determination to come back stronger in the next edition of the tournament in four years.

The Somali referee said in an emotional statement: "I will be present at the next World Cup in 2030, and I will continue to raise the name and flag of Somalia high in international forums. Despite everything that has happened to me in the past hours, I am not discouraged at all."

Artan concluded his speech by saying: "We raise the flag of our country, Somalia, in good times and bad, and we all must defend its honor and remain faithful to our responsibilities. I promise to continue my efforts with pride to serve our nation and prove our worth to the world."