Somali referee Omar Artan welcomed home as hero after World Cup dream ends at U.S. border

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Somali referee Omar Artan received a hero’s welcome after returning home following his exclusion from the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Artan, who would have become the first Somali-born referee to officiate at a World Cup, was unable to enter the United States and was subsequently ruled out of the tournament. Despite the disappointment, supporters in Somalia celebrated his achievements and welcomed him back with pride and admiration.

Transcript

00:01Omar Ayrton was supposed to make history at the 2026 FIFA World Cup as the first Somali-born

00:07referee ever selected to officiate the tournament. But after arriving in Miami, Ayrton was denied

00:13entry into the United States, preventing him from participating in World Cup training and

00:17officiating duties. FIFA later confirmed that he would not be part of the tournament despite

00:22being named African Men's Referee of the Year in 2025. Although his World Cup dream came to

00:28an unexpected end, Ayrton returned home to an emotional reception in Somalia.

00:48Crowds greeted him as a national hero, wrapping him in the Somali flag and celebrating everything

00:54he accomplished on his journey to football's biggest stage.

00:58Crowds mundial

00:58BBC

00:59Steve

00:59St cool

00:59St.

00:59Ha

01:00Theory

01:00St.

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