Omar Abdulkadir Artan (b. 1992, Somalia) is a Somali professional football referee who has served in international organizations. Since 2018, Artan has worn the FIFA badge and was named Male Referee of the Year in 2025 by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). Throughout his career, he has officiated prestigious tournaments such as the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and the CAF Champions League final, becoming the first Somali referee to officiate at this level in Somali football history. Artan was selected to officiate at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, but was denied entry into the United States by American authorities and thus could not participate in the tournament.

Omar Abdulkadir Artan was born and raised in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia. His childhood and youth unfolded under difficult conditions including civil conflict, instability, and limited sports infrastructure in his country. Driven by his passion for sport, he turned to football refereeing and regularly officiated matches in the Somali national football league before entering the international arena. With improved security conditions, he took advantage of FIFA’s renewed training programs for referees in Somalia to further develop his skills.

As a result of his progress, Artan was included in FIFA’s international referee list in 2018. His rise on the African football scene accelerated in 2020 when he began officiating CAF matches. His sharp decision-making and authoritative presence on the pitch quickly earned him recognition as one of Africa’s most promising referees.

One of his first major international experiences came in 2023 when he officiated at the Africa Cup of Nations finals held in Algeria. In 2024, he made history by becoming the first Somali referee to officiate a match at the Africa Cup of Nations, which was hosted in Côte d’Ivoire. His fair and fluid performance during the opening match of Group E, where Namibia defeated Tunisia 1-0 in the 88th minute via a header by Deon Hotto, drew particular attention; Kenyan assistants Gilbert Cheruiyot and Stephen Yiembe supported him in that match. Artan also officiated the historic victory of Mauritania over Algeria in the same tournament.

His continental success culminated in a historic appointment at the club level. On 1 June 2025, he officiated the second leg of the CAF Champions League final between Egyptian club Pyramids FC and South African side Mamelodi Sundowns in Cairo. With this appointment, he became the first Somali referee to officiate the premier club football final in Africa.

Following these achievements, he was selected as one of the three central referees from Africa for the FIFA U-20 World Cup, held in Chile from 27 September to 19 October 2025, alongside Moroccan Jalal Jayed and Algerian Youcef Gamouh. He was also the only referee representing Sub-Saharan Africa at the tournament.

Omar Abdulkadir Artan’s consistent and successful performances at the international level have been recognized by CAF, the governing body of African football. At the CAF Awards ceremony held in Rabat, Morocco in 2025, he was honored with the title of Male Referee of the Year (Africa’s Best Referee).

His achievements have also generated significant acclaim within his home country. In an official statement in April 2026, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mahmud praised Artan’s professionalism and integrity, describing him as a “symbol of inspiration for a new generation of Somalis.” He is widely regarded by the international sports community and officials at the Somali Ministry of Sports as one of Africa’s most respected referees.

As a result of his international rise, Artan was officially selected by FIFA as one of the 52 central referees for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. This selection was intended to make him the first Somali referee to officiate a match in World Cup history. FIFA’s Refereeing Committee President Pierluigi Collina organized a mandatory training, preparation, and security camp for all selected referees in Miami, United States.

In preparation for the tournament, Artan began his journey with a diplomatic passport issued by the Somali Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya, and a valid U.S. work visa. After a transit stop in Turkey, he arrived at Miami International Airport on Saturday, 6 June 2026. However, upon arrival, he was subjected to an additional screening by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers as part of routine procedures.

During an 11-hour interrogation and review, he was questioned about the purpose of his visit to the United States, the political situation in Somalia, and the armed group Al-Shabaab, which controls parts of the country. After the interview, Artan was detained in a separate holding facility and deemed “inadmissible” by CBP due to “vetting concerns,” and entry into the United States was denied. The following day, Sunday, he was put on a flight and returned to Istanbul, Turkey, where he had transited. U.S. authorities stated that this decision directly resulted from the comprehensive travel ban reinstated in 2025 under President Donald Trump’s administration, which included Somalia among other countries.

In response, FIFA confirmed that it cannot intervene in host countries’ immigration processes or visa decisions, as these powers rest entirely with the host government, and thus confirmed Artan’s inability to participate in the tournament. Since physical attendance at the training camp in Miami was mandatory for all officials, no alternative such as assigning him only to matches in Canada or Mexico was feasible.

This exclusion sparked widespread reaction and criticism in the sports world. The Somali Football Federation formally notified FIFA and demanded an urgent explanation. Ciise Aden Abshir, senior advisor to the Somali Ministry of Youth and Sports, stated that Artan’s blocking was not merely a personal setback but also an affront to the principles of justice, merit, and fair play in football. Former English international footballer and commentator Ian Wright strongly criticized this incident along with other organizational issues surrounding the tournament, labeling the process a “chaos World Cup.” White House World Cup Operations Director Andrew Giuliani defended the decision, asserting that border officials had taken the correct step.

Following his deportation, Omar Abdulkadir Artan told the New York Times and Reuters that he experienced profound disappointment at having his greatest career ambition taken from him. Despite possessing all required legal documentation, he believes he was targeted for political reasons. He expressed gratitude to FIFA and CAF officials for their support and emphasized his commitment to maintaining professional standards and focusing on future assignments.