He was barred from US for the World Cup. Now Somali referee Omar Artan is set to make history. | CNN

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.