After being denied entry into the United States, the Somali-born World Cup referee Omar Altan was welcomed back like a hero.
Altan arrived in Mogadishu on June 10th local time. Reuters
According to Associated Press and RT, on June 10 local time, Altan arrived in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, and expressed gratitude to the Somali government, the people, and FIFA for their support.
When Altan stepped down from the plane, supporters waving Somali flags surrounded him and draped the flag over him.
He said, “I assure you that I will participate in the next World Cup. I hope that the people of Somalia will be comforted and maintain their confidence.”
He said, “Defending Somalia’s reputation is the responsibility of all of us. Whether it’s good or bad, Somalia belongs to us. That flag belongs to us, and that passport also belongs to us.”
Later that day, the stadium in Mogadishu, Somalia, was filled with thousands of fans who held a welcome ceremony for Altan. Patriotic songs echoed throughout the venue, and supporters waved their flags to cheer him on.
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamed met with the World Cup referee, who is considered a national hero, at the presidential palace.
Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdibare also met with Altan. On social media, he said that this referee “has won the hearts of millions of people and has secured a place in history.”
Bare wrote: “He committed to ensuring that football matches are determined by skill, but fate deprived him of the stage he truly deserved.”
It is reported that Altan is one of the 52 referees selected for this FIFA World Cup in Mexico and the United States. He is also one of only 7 African referees selected. In 2025, he was awarded the title of Best Referee by the African Football Confederation.
On June 8th, local time, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced that Altan arrived at Miami International Airport on June 6th, local time, but was prevented from entering the country.
The statement says: “The passenger underwent additional checks, which are routine procedures for the Customs and Border Protection to verify information or determine whether entry is allowed. After the checks, this World Cup referee was deemed ineligible to enter the country due to concerns regarding his background, and his entry was denied.”
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection further stated that this entry decision is made on a case-by-case basis.
The Associated Press pointed out that this move has sparked outrage worldwide, and has also led some fans to question whether the United States is capable of hosting such international events.
The Trump administration has imposed strict travel and visa restrictions on Somalia. In December 2025, Trump made "xenophobic remarks" at the White House, calling Somali immigrants "trash" and stating that Somalia "does not even qualify as a country." At the same time, the U.S. Department of Defense worked with the Somali government to carry out several air strikes against armed targets within Somalia.
