Somalia president congratulates World Cup-bound referee Omar Artan

Somalia’s president Hassan Mohamud has congratulated referee Omar Artan after he became the first Somali official selected for a World Cup finals. The 34‑year‑old was named among FIFA’s fifty‑two referees for the 2026 tournament in Canada, Mexico and the United States, a milestone the president said had elevated Somalia’s international reputation. Mohamud praised Artan’s professionalism and integrity, calling him an inspiration for young Somalis.

Artan has been a consistent trailblazer since becoming a FIFA referee in 2018. He officiated in the Somali national league before making history as the first Somalia‑born referee to take charge of a CAF Champions League match in January 2025. He also worked at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Algeria and was named CAF’s men’s referee of the year in 2025, despite not featuring at the AFCON finals in Morocco earlier this year.

Somalia now aim to build on recent progress after qualifying for the 2027 AFCON group stage.