Somali referee Omar Artan set to make history at 2026 FIFA World Cup

Omar Adulkadir Artan, a 34-year-old Somali referee, is set to make history as the first Somalian to officiate at a FIFA World Cup, joining seven central referees from Africa at the 2026 tournament. He won the 2025 CAF Best Male Referee Award and has officiated numerous major FIFA and CAF competitions. His rise comes despite Somalia's decades of conflict, which destroyed football infrastructure and forced the national team to host matches abroad. Al-Shabaab's threats against players and fans further deepened the country's isolation from international football.

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