Omar Artan, the 2025 CAF Men’s Referee of the Year, was set to become the first Somali official at a World Cup finals. However, he has reportedly been denied entry to the United States.

RT @MOFASomalia: Press Statemet: The Federal Republic of Somalia rejects any engagement with entities operating outside its constitutional…

Ha nixin my friend @Ramadan70530344

Honoured to join H.E. President @HassanSMohamud in welcoming Italian investors and business leaders to @TheVillaSomalia during the Somalia–Italy Business Week. The growing presence of international companies and business delegations in Somalia reflects the increasing global confidence in the opportunities our country offers. Somalia continues to attract strong interest as a destination for trade, investment, and long-term partnership.

Sawirkaan wuxuu niyad jab iyo walbahaar ku abuuray qolyihii rabay in Hawiye Muqdisho isku laayo, waa milkiilaha hotel Elite wasiir hore iyo aagisme Mahad Salaad @mahadsalad Elite dib ayaa loo furay, wiilashii Cadale aaday waaka soo laabteen, isfaham daradiina weey dhamaatay.

Few points on the announcement of a US-Iran deal: - Image of US power significantly diminished. Washington could not bring Iran to heel, could not open the Hormuz Strait, could not push Saudi into war, could not impose normalisation with Israel, could not protect its allies against cheaper Iranian missiles despite its more expensive technology, could not get NATO to join the war, could not get Europe to join the war, could not convince China to pull away from Iran, and could not stop Gulf states privately negotiating with Iran to exclude themselves from Iran's list of targets. - Israel overreached and failed. It successfully dragged US to war with Iran, but failed to achieve any strategic aim. No regime change, no Arab-Israeli coalition, no newly annexed territories, publicly slapped down by Trump after attacking Beirut, forced kicking and screaming into a deal it adamantly opposed, and now faces a US public opinion that squarely blames Tel Aviv for dragging America into a war there was no need to fight with potentially generational political consequences for the US-Israeli relationship (Israel cannot fight any war without US funds, troops, weapons, and diplomatic cover). - Saudi Arabia vindicated. Refused to be dragged into conflict, resisted UAE campaign to get Arab states to join Israel's attack, resisted pressure from Trump to normalise in exchange for security, deepened coordination with Pakistan and Turkiye over integrating supply chains and routes, and successfully negotiated its own de-escalation with Iran. - Turkiye's Erdogan staves off Israeli attempts to use the war with Iran to drive a wedge between him and Trump as the latter instead asserts their personal friendship, thanks him publicly for helping to bring the deal, and affirms his belief in Turkiye as a stabilising force by promoting Tom Barrack (who the Israelis deeply resent for his alleged partiality and positive view of Ankara).

All the ladies in Somalia are loving the referee Omar Artan, who was not allowed to officiate at the World Cup because he was denied a visa. 😌😍🇸🇴

Maalmo yar gudahood, magaciisa wuxuu gaaray gees kasta oo dunida ah. 🌍⚽

“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Luke 23:34 To Omar Abdulkadir Artan: they did not diminish your achievement; they diminished an opportunity for sport to do what it does best—bring people together. Sport rises above politics. It is one of the last remaining spaces where merit, discipline, and excellence can transcend borders and differences. The decision to deny you entry may have kept you out of a country, but it could never diminish your talent, your dignity, or the respect you have earned across Africa and the world. The thousands who welcomed you home understood something important: greatness is not conferred by a visa. It is earned through character, hard work, and achievement. They did not lose you. The decision-makers lost an opportunity to demonstrate the values of fairness, inclusion, and unity that inspire the world. Your achievement remains unquestioned. Your story remains bigger than this moment. #IStandWithOmar #WorldCup youtu.be/2HXGTeNLN7w?is=Ztkt…

From one missed opportunity to the next! Congratulations to Omar Artan, Somalia’s talented and prized referee. Europe is a sound and reliable partner 😉

🏆 Referee announced for 2026 #SuperCup! We're pleased to share that Somali referee Omar Artan will officiate the highly anticipated match between PSG and Aston Villa in Salzburg.

Omar Artan has never had an X account.

🚨|𝗡𝗘𝗪: Omar Artan has returned to Somalia and was received at the Presidential Palace in Mogadishu, where he held a meeting with the President of Somalia after his earlier visa denial.

Thank you Mr. President.

Keep The Blue Flag Flying High. #Somalia

Diyaargarow isbuca xoriyada🔥

He is bigger than Trump 🤌🏿

Press Release: The Federal Republic of Somalia expresses its regret over the denial of entry to Somali international referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan. We remain immensely proud of his achievements and contributions. Welcome home, Omar. The Somali people stand proudly with you.

As someone who has worked on national security vetting, the Trump Admin barring Somali referee Omar Artan entry to the US for the World Cup leads to more questions than answers. Omar was vetted, approved, and issued a visa. Then he landed in the United States and was suddenly deemed a national security threat. So which is it? Either the system failed, or someone changed the rules after the fact. That's not how serious national security decisions should be made. The public deserves to know what changed.

Referee Omar Artan’s Heroes welcome.