Somali soccer referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan returned home to a hero’s welcome on Wednesday ​after being barred from entering the U.S. for the World Cup, describing the decision as a matter of “fate” and urging his fellow Somalis not to ‌lose heart over it.

Artan, Africa’s referee of the year in 2025, had been set to become the first Somali to officiate at soccer’s global showpiece, but was turned back by U.S. Customs and Border Protection over the weekend.

The Trump administration said on Tuesday the U.S. had denied Artan entry for the World Cup because of his links to “suspected members of terror organizations”.

“What happened has happened and it was fate. ​I am grateful for the support FIFA gave me,” Artan told reporters after arriving in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu.

“Somalia is ours, whether things are good or bad. I ​want to tell our youth not to lose hope in our country,” he said. “I am now in my country, and there is ⁠no other place I want to be.”

‘WE REALLY FELT HIS PAIN’

Later on Wednesday, thousands of cheering supporters, some carrying flags and photos of Artan, poured into a stadium in ​Mogadishu, where he was the guest of honour at a game.

Many said they were bitterly disappointed by the U.S. decision but said Artan’s stature was undiminished in their eyes.

“As young people, ​we really felt his pain. We all also have dreams. He made such a huge effort to reach the stage he reached and was eventually let down,” student Abdulqadir Ali Abokor, 26, told Reuters.

“For us and for many around the world, he is… a champion, and this decision doesn’t make a difference,” he added.

“We are here to show him that we stand with him,” fitness instructor and former referee ​Abdi Abdulle Baasaale, 54, said.

Somalia’s Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre, who met Artan on Wednesday, said he had “won the hearts of millions and secured his place in history”.

“Omar Artan ​has done more than unite the footballing world; he has ignited hope in every child who dares to dream beyond the horizon. Dreams may be deferred, but they are never defeated,” Barre said ‌in a post ⁠on X.

DIPLOMATIC PASSPORT

Artan’s ordeal has drawn global attention, with the head of the World Health Organisation, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, expressing solidarity with him.

“You reached the summit of your profession and inspired a generation back home just by getting there, and being kept off the pitch you earned doesn’t change that. This won’t be the end of your story on the world stage,” Tedros, the first African to head the WHO, said in a post on X late on Tuesday.

The Trump administration’s strict immigration policies have been a point of concern, opening a new tab before the World Cup, ​with Washington imposing a sweeping travel ban ​last year on citizens of 12 countries, ⁠including Somalia.

Somali government officials and an official from the Somali Football Federation told Reuters that Artan had been issued a diplomatic passport.

“Artan was travelling on a diplomatic passport which we issued for the World Cup to ensure he didn’t face any obstacles,” a Somali ​diplomat at the embassy in Nairobi said.

A U.S. official said that Artan did not try to enter the U.S. on a diplomatic ​passport, without addressing whether ⁠he had one.

Somalia’s foreign ministry expressed “deep regret” over the U.S. decision in a statement issued on Wednesday. It said the Somali government had made unsuccessful diplomatic efforts to enable Artan’s travel.

A FIFA spokesperson said Artan would now not be able to train or officiate at the tournament, which is being held in the U.S., Mexico and Canada and starts on Thursday.

Without identifying Artan, ⁠the U.S. Customs ​and Border Protection said a Somali national arrived at Miami International Airport from Istanbul on Saturday and was ​deemed inadmissible because of vetting concerns.

An administration official later said CBP officials had determined that Artan was a threat to national security.

It was not clear which game or games Artan would have refereed, although such information is ​typically only announced two to three days in advance.

-Reuters

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FIFA President Gianni Infantino defended the way soccer’s governing body had handled visa issues ahead of the World Cup, saying on Wednesday that it was working to find solutions but could not ​override government decisions.

Speaking on the eve of the tournament opener between co-hosts Mexico and South Africa, Infantino ‌addressed concerns surrounding Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, who was barred from entering the U.S. despite having a valid visa.

“It is unfortunate what happened to the referee from Somalia,” Infantino told a press conference.

“We are not the kings of the world who can rule over governments and police forces. We are ​a sports organisation.”

The case has drawn attention to immigration challenges ahead of the June 11-July 19 tournament after U.S. ​authorities said Artan was denied entry because of his links to “suspected members of terror organisations”.

Infantino said ⁠FIFA was continuing to work behind the scenes to resolve outstanding issues but stressed that immigration decisions ultimately rested with national ​authorities.

“We always try to find solutions,” he said. “Sometimes, to immediately start screaming and shouting has the opposite effect of finding a ​solution.”

Asked whether visa-related controversies had made him regret selecting the U.S. as one of the host nations, Infantino said he had no regrets.

“There are issues; it’s normal for an event of this magnitude,” he said. “Some come from the United States, some from Canada, some from Mexico. We deal with ​all of them.”

The FIFA president also pointed to Iran’s participation in the tournament as evidence of his organisation’s efforts to navigate complex ​political circumstances.

“People were saying Iran couldn’t come to the World Cup,” Infantino said. “I promised them they will come.”

He said ensuring Iran’s participation despite geopolitical ‌tensions demonstrated ⁠football’s ability to bring people together.

WE WANT TO UNITE THE WORLD

The Swiss-Italian executive repeatedly returned to a message of unity, saying the World Cup could provide a welcome distraction at a time of global conflict and uncertainty.

“When Iran plays, the stadium will be full, and I hope there will be a positive atmosphere because this is football,” he said. “We want to unite the world.”

Infantino ​also defended FIFA’s ticket pricing after criticism ​from some supporters who ⁠argued that the cost of attending matches had become prohibitive.

FIFA has sold more than six million tickets for the tournament, which now has 48 teams, and demand has exceeded expectations by “a factor of ​10 or more”, he said.

“The starting price at $60 is the lowest entry price of any ​of the American ⁠sports in the playoff phases,” Infantino said.

“If you sell it at a lower price point, it would have gone on secondary markets at much higher prices. Every dollar that comes in goes back to the development of football.”

The World Cup kicks off on Thursday at ⁠Mexico City’s ​Estadio Azteca, which will become the first stadium to host matches at three ​men’s World Cups, with Infantino predicting one of the most competitive tournaments in the event’s history.

The FIFA president said factors including altitude, climate, travel and the ​expanded format would add further unpredictability before concluding: “Let the celebration begin.”

-Reuters

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Senegal’s Football Federation (FSF) has moved to calm growing controversy after videos showing members of the country’s World Cup squad undergoing security screening on an airport tarmac in the United States sparked accusations of discriminatory treatment on social media.

The footage, which circulated widely online on Tuesday, showed players and officials being subjected to security checks before boarding a flight from Raleigh, North Carolina, to San Antonio, Texas, where the Teranga Lions were due to play Saudi Arabia in a World Cup warm-up match.

The images quickly generated criticism from football fans and commentators, many of whom questioned whether the African nation’s players were being unfairly singled out ahead of the FIFA World Cup.

In response, the FSF issued a statement insisting that the procedures were routine security measures carried out in accordance with airport regulations and were designed to facilitate, rather than hinder, the team’s travel.

According to the federation, special logistical arrangements had been made to allow the Senegalese delegation to bypass the normal airport terminal process.

“As part of the logistical arrangements for the trip, the bus transporting the national team left the hotel in Raleigh to go directly to the airport tarmac,” the federation explained.

The statement added that all security and police checks were conducted beside the aircraft, enabling players and staff to avoid passing through the usual airport terminals and boarding lounges.

“This procedure allowed the players and staff members to complete all security and police checks directly at the foot of the aircraft, without having to pass through the usual airport terminal areas and boarding lounges,” the federation said.

The FSF stressed that the arrangement was intended to optimise travel time and simplify boarding for the team’s private flight to San Antonio.

“This arrangement was primarily intended to optimise the delegation’s travel time and to facilitate boarding onto the private flight bound for San Antonio,” the statement added.

The clarification came shortly after Senegal played out a goalless draw with Saudi Arabia in a preparatory match on Tuesday. The encounter saw the African champions reduced to 10 men but still managed to hold their opponents.

Senegal are preparing for a challenging World Cup campaign in Group I. Their tournament begins against reigning world champions France in New Jersey on June 16.

The Teranga Lions will remain in New Jersey to face Norway on June 22 before concluding their group-stage fixtures against Iraq in Toronto on June 26.

While the federation’s explanation may ease concerns, the episode highlights the sensitivity surrounding travel and security procedures involving teams participating in the expanded World Cup across the United States, Mexico and Canada.

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