For Omar Abdulkadir Artan, it promised to be the opportunity of a lifetime.
Following a decade of breaking new ground and inspiring a generation of African referees, an appearance on the biggest stage of all – the World Cup – was set to be the high point of his still burgeoning officiating career.
Added to FIFA’s international list of referees in 2018, the Somali official had already achieved a series of historic firsts for his country.
Artan was the first to take part at an Africa Cup of Nations in 2023; the first to take charge of a Confederation of African Football (CAF) Champions League final in 2025; and the first to be crowned CAF Men’s Referee of the Year in 2025 – the highest honor in his field.
He was also one of seven African referees chosen by FIFA for this summer’s World Cup and poised to be Somalia’s first ever representative on the world stage.
That was until his dream was dashed.
World Cup denial
Days before the tournament’s big kickoff, the 34-year-old was denied entry into the United States.
Interviewed for 11 hours at Miami International Airport before his deportation, a US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) spokesperson told CNN at the time his denial was “due to vetting concerns.”
The CBP spokesperson did not provide details at the time on why Artan was refused entry, but a Trump administration official later told CNN the vetting uncovered “derogatory information, including association with suspected members of terror organizations.”
The official did not provide further details on the alleged association with terror organizations.
That information has still not been provided to this day, but nationals of countries listed under the Trump Administration’s travel ban are placed under additional scrutiny and Somalia continues to be one of 39 nations affected by it.
In a subsequent interview with The New York Times, Artan said he had been granted a visa ahead of his arrival.
World soccer governing body FIFA, which organizes the World Cup, said immigration decisions were the purview of host countries for the tournament.
It’s not clear which or how many games Artan would have refereed.
FIFA didn’t respond to CNN Sports’ query on whether Artan has been fully paid for his match assignments and if it intends to appoint him to future FIFA competitions.
For now, his dream to referee at a men’s World Cup must wait until 2030 at the earliest when the tournament heads to Spain, Portugal and Morocco.
Super Cup history
Artan admitted the moment of realization was palpable.
“It was a very tough period,” he said in a recent interview with European soccer governing body UEFA.
“A lot of people have sympathy for me because, when someone has been working a lot of years and is supposed to do something and then can’t do it, it’s very challenging.
“I really appreciate the support I received throughout the world, though. I’m so grateful.”
The 34-year-old returned to a hero’s welcome in his nation’s capital of Mogadishu following his denial of entry to the US.
He urged fellow Somalis not to lose heart, insisting his dream was not over.
Just days later, UEFA stepped in to appoint him as referee for its Super Cup, the annual clash between the Champions League and Europa League winners, marking yet another historic first for Artan and the continent.
The Somali will become the first non-European to officiate a Super Cup, with Paris Saint-Germain facing Aston Villa in Salzburg, Austria on Wednesday.
“When we got this call it was, for me and my family, really a very, very happy moment,” he revealed to UEFA.
“There’s a big Somali community in Europe and in Austria and they are over the moon with me officiating a match like this.”
‘Don’t stop dreaming’
Following the World Cup disappointment, Artan has since taken charge of league games in Somalia as well as the Kuwaiti Premier League title decider at the end of June.
He will be assisted by two more East African officials for UEFA’s preseason showpiece event in Djibouti’s Liban Ahmed and Stephen Yiembe from Kenya.
Their appointment comes amid a cooperation agreement signed between UEFA and CAF earlier this year, focused on the sharing of “expertise and experiences across several strategic areas.”
Artan is now raring to show his skills and that of his continent on the European stage.
“We referees go through a lot of preparation in terms of getting to know the teams,” he said told UEFA ahead of the match.
“I always watch the teams play. I like watching European football anyway but, regardless, I go through and do a lot of research on the teams, how they play, learn their behaviors (and) tactics.”
Beyond the pitch, Artan has a wider message to convey for aspiring referees around the world.
“I believe that if I can succeed, anyone can. You can do whatever you want to do. Don’t ever stop dreaming,” he said.
“Don’t stop, regardless of what happens and irrespective of people preventing you from doing your job.
“Learn new things every day, refine your skills and, most importantly, be fair and consistent.”
