Somalia Football News

Omar Abdulkadir Artan was set to become the first referee from Somalia to officiate at the World Cup but was denied entry into the United States

The Somalian referee acclaimed as the 'best in Africa' - who was kicked out of the US ahead of the World Cup - was given a hero's welcome in his...

Refereeing at the 2026 Fifa World Cup was set to be the highlight of Omar Artan’s career, but the Somali will miss out on the opportunity to take...

Somali referee Omar Artan faced a disappointing setback after being denied entry to the U.S. for the FIFA World Cup, despite holding a valid visa. ...

Artan was due to be first Somali referee at World Cup‘I promise you that I will attend the next one'The World Cup referee from Somalia who was...

The United States have issued a statement on Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan after he was denied entry ahead of the World Cup.

News and buildup as World Cup countdown continuesPlayer guide | Bracketology | Wallchart | Mail TomMorning/evening/middle-of-the-night everyone....

World Cup fever is building with tournament's opening game just days away

The Trump administration said Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan had been denied entry to the country because of links to “suspected members of...

Somali referee Omar Artan has returned to Mogadishu to a hero’s welcome after being denied entry into the United States, a setback that...

Omar Artan, who was Africa's referee of the year in 2025, was denied entry to the US last weekend despite being issued with a valid visa

Somali official was barred from entering US soil before summer tournament

Referee Omar Artan was set to become the first official from Somalia to take part in the World Cup before he was denied entry to the United States

A United States official said Tuesday night that Omar Artan, the Somalian referee who was denied entry into the country ahead of the World Cup, was...

A FIFA spokesperson said Artan would not be able to train or officiate at the World Cup.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino held a 66-minute press conference on the eve of the World Cup, where he addressed Somali referee Omar Artan being...

He was denied entry at Miami International Airport on Saturday due to "vetting concerns"

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has lashed out after Somali referee Omar Artan was denied entry into the United States after being...

South Africa’s opposition party, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), has strongly criticised the reported treatment of Somali referee Omar...

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has strongly criticised the United States government following reports that Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir...

FIFA is facing growing criticism after Somali referee Omar Artan was denied entry into the United States ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Artan had...

The exclusion of Omar Artan from the United States ahead of the World Cup has triggered calls for football's global governing body to step in with...

The United States government has denied entry to history-making Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, sparking...

The United States government has denied entry to history-making Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, sparking...

EXCLUSIVE: With Somalia referee Omar Artan banned from the United States, ex-players have said it's a "World Cup of chaos" and "Martin Luther King...

Somali referee Omar Artan has revealed that he was subjected to an 11-hour immigration interview before being denied entry into the United States...

Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan has revealed he was subjected to an 11-hour immigration interview before being denied entry into the United...

Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan has attributed the decision that ended his 2026 FIFA World Cup dream to problems between the US and his...

Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan has attributed the decision that ended his 2026 FIFA World Cup dream to problems between the US and his...

Somalia’s government has thrown its full support behind international referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan after he was denied entry into the United...

Ian Wright took to Instagram to share his thoughts after Africa’s top referee will not be allowed to officiate at the World Cup after he was...

Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan has been removed from the 2026 FIFA World Cup officiating roster after US authorities denied him entry into...

After Somalian referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan had his ‘dream' of officiating at the World Cup denied by the host nation on the eve of the...

International border friction is casting a shadow over the buildup to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This was highlighted by US immigration authorities...

Fifa confirms referee will be removed from its roster as he was unable to enter the US

Omar Artan should be provided a "discretionary payment" after being refused entry into the United States ahead of the 2026 World Cup.That is...

Somali referee Omar Artan was denied entry into the United States after getting selected to officiate at the World Cup, and Ian Wright has taken...

With just a couple of days left for the FIFA World Cup to begin in the USA, Canada, and Mexico, things have already started getting chaotic. After...

Regarded as one of Africa’s top soccer referees, the respected Omar Artan unfortunately did not find entry into the USA for the upcoming FIFA World...

Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan will miss his World Cup debut after U.S. authorities denied him entry despite a valid visa. Somali referee...

Former Arsenal and England forward Ian Wright has let rip at FIFA after Somali referee Omar Artan was denied entry into the United States to...

The United States denied entry to Somali football referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan over the weekend, preventing him from becoming the first Somali...

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has criticized the Trump administration’s handling of the 2026 World Cup, arguing that travel restrictions and...

Somali referee Omar Artan will miss the 2026 World Cup after being sensationally denied entry to the United States at Miami Airport.

Somalian official Omar Artan has been unable to travel to the competition after being stopped by US Customs and Border Protection officials

Omar Artan, Somalia’s only FIFA World Cup referee and Africa’s Best Referee for 2025, was denied entry to the US despite holding a valid visa. CBP...

Artan, who was set to become the first Somali referee to officiate at a FIFA World Cup finals, was reportedly stopped at Miami International...

Somalian top referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan has broken his silence after being denied entry into the United States for the 2026 FIFA World Cup...

Omar Artan was reportedly turned away at Miami International Airport last weekend despite possessing valid travel documents

FIFA has confirmed that African football’s top-ranked referee, Omar Abdulkadir Artan, will not officiate at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after being...

Award-winning Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan has been ruled out of officiating at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after being denied entry into the...

FIFA has confirmed that Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan will miss the 2026 FIFA World Cup after being denied entry into the United States.In a...

FIFA has confirmed that Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan will not take part in the 2026 World Cup after being denied entry into the United...

U.S. Customs and Border Protection confirmed that a Somali national who was planning to referee in the World Cup had been denied entry

Somali referee Omar Artan has been denied entry into the United States after getting selected to officiate in the World Cup.

Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, who was selected by FIFA to officiate at the 2026 World Cup, has been denied entry to the United States and...

Was going to be first Somalian to officiate at a World Cup‘He deserves the support of the football community'A Somali referee, who was set to...

The reported refusal of entry to Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan has become far more than an isolated immigration issue. At first glance, the...

The participation of Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan at the 2026 World Cup has been cast into uncertainty after reports emerged that he was...

Award-winning Somali referee Omar Artan, set to be the first from his country to officiate at the World Cup finals, was denied entry to the United...

Omar Artan was expecting to officiate at the World Cup this summer (Picture: Getty Images) Somali referee Omar Artan has been denied entry into...

With just three days until the start of the 2026 World Cup, Somali referee Omar Artan has been denied entry to the United States and sent back to...

A Somali referee acclaimed as the best in Africa has reportedly been denied entry to the United States and sent on a flight back to Istanbul upon...

Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan has reportedly been denied entry into the United States despite being selected to officiate at the 2026 FIFA...

Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan has reportedly been denied entry to the United States just days before the start of the 2026 World Cup,...

Africas top referee will not be allowed to officiate at the World Cup after he was refused entry to the USA, FIFA has confirmed.

Somalia's Omar Abdulkadir Artan has taken a decisive step toward making history after receiving his United States visa this morning, officially...

Concerns are growing over the availability of Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after reports emerged that he has...

[The Point] The Gambia will open its 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier campaign against Somalia in September 2026 in Banjul.

Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan remains unable to join preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a prolonged visa issue prevented him...

All African match officials selected for the 2026 FIFA World Cup have successfully secured their visas and are now set to take part in the global...

[The Point] The Gambia have been drawn against Ivory Coast, Ghana and Somalia in Group C of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

The draw for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations Pamoja were made known with West African giants Ghana and Ivory Coast paired together in the most trick...

[Ghanaian Times] Ghana will face Cote d'Ivoire, The Gambia and Somalia in Group C of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Gambia boss Johnathan McKinstry has expressed excitement after the draw for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers placed Gambia in a...

Gambia head coach Johnathan McKinstry has admitted that his side face a monumental task after being drawn alongside Ghana and Ivory Coast in the...

Three-time African champions Ivory Coast will once again renew their long-standing rivalry with Ghana after the two football giants were drawn...

Ghana’s road to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations will begin with a heavyweight clash against reigning African champions Ivory Coast after the Black...

Johnathan McKinstry says Gambia are excited by the challenge of facing Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers after...

Former Ivory Coast international Max-Alain Gradel has expressed confidence that the Elephants will successfully navigate a difficult-looking Group...

Ghana’s Black Stars will begin their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign with a challenging away fixture against...

Former Nigeria captain William Troost-Ekong has shared his excitement ahead of the highly anticipated clash between Ghana and Ivory Coast in the...

Former Nigeria captain William Troost-Ekong believes the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualification campaign will be highly competitive and...

Former Nigeria captain William Troost-Ekong has expressed excitement ahead of the upcoming showdown between Ghana and the Ivory Coast in the...

Ghana will face Cote d’Ivoire, The Gambia and Somalia in Group C of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. The draw was held on Tuesday in...

CAF Ambassador and former Côte d’Ivoire captain Max Gradel has expressed confidence that the Elephants will navigate a challenging...

CAF Ambassador and Ivorian football legend Max Gradel has expressed a mix of weariness and confidence following the AFCON 2027 qualifying draw in...

Legendary Egyptian goalkeeper Essam El Hadary has labeled Group C as the "most difficult" section of the AFCON 2027 qualifiers following the...

Legendary Egyptian goalkeeper Essam El Hadary has labeled Group C as the "most difficult" section of the AFCON 2027 qualifiers following the...