Omar Abdulkadir Artan has written a new chapter in Somali football history after becoming the first referee from the country to officiate at a FIFA World Cup.
He made his debut on Monday at the Estadio El Teniente in Chile during the opening Group A fixture of the U-20 World Cup, where the United States outclassed tournament debutants New Caledonia 9-1.
Artan is part of an exclusive team of referees selected for the global competition, representing Africa as the only official from Sub-Saharan Africa. His appointment marks a major milestone for Somali football and for African match officials at the international level.
“This is a historic moment, not just for me but for Somali football. I hope it inspires young referees in Somalia and across Africa to dream big and pursue excellence,” Omar said.
The United States set new national records for both the number of goals scored and their winning margin at a U-20 World Cup match. Captain Benjamin Cremaschi netted a first-half hat trick, becoming only the third American to achieve the feat in the tournament’s history. The US team also became just the fourth side to score nine goals in a single U-20 World Cup game.
Artan’s rise to the world stage has been steady. In 2024, he made history by becoming the first Somali referee to officiate an Africa Cup of Nations final.
Later that year, he was in charge of the CAF Confederation Cup final pitting Egypt’s Pyramids FC against Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa.
At the U-20 World Cup, Artan is being assisted by Kenyan referee Gilbert Cheruiyot and Abelmiro Montenegro from São Tomé and Príncipe.
“This appointment reflects the growing recognition of African referees on the global stage. I am proud to represent Somalia and Sub-Saharan Africa in this tournament,” he added.
Becoming a FIFA referee involves a rigorous process. Officials typically start by volunteering at the grassroots level, handling youth, school, and local league matches to build essential skills in decision-making, match control and application of the rules.
They then undergo formal training through their national football associations, which includes fitness, game management and the laws of the game.
After gaining experience and national certification, referees may be nominated by their federations for FIFA accreditation. This involves thorough assessments of technical ability, physical fitness and performance under pressure.
Those who succeed qualify to officiate major international tournaments, including the World Cup, and are required to consistently maintain high professional and fitness standards.