Canada has offered support to Somali referee Omar Artan after he was denied a United States (US) visa ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
British Columbia Premier David Eby said Omar would be welcome in Canada and believes he should be allowed to officiate World Cup matches in Vancouver, one of the host cities for the 2026 World Cup.
"Artan would be welcomed and celebrated in British Columbia for what he's overcome and where he is today. Let's have him referee in Vancouver," Eby posted on social media.
The show of support comes after Omar's hopes of making history at the World Cup suffered a major setback. The 34-year-old was set to become the first Somali referee to take up an on-field role at football's biggest tournament before being denied entry into the US.
Omar had travelled to Miami for a mandatory FIFA pre-tournament seminar and training camp for referees selected to officiate at the World Cup. Despite holding a diplomatic passport and a valid single-entry US visa, he was stopped by immigration officials upon arrival and later denied entry.
According to reports, Omar was questioned for 11 hours by border officials before being informed that he would not be admitted due to what authorities described as "vetting concerns". His case has been linked to travel restrictions affecting citizens from several countries, including Somalia.
The referee had described his World Cup appointment as the pinnacle of years of sacrifice and dedication.
"Every referee's ambition is to go to the World Cup," Omar told BBC Somali before departing for the US. "When you are selected, you feel that all your hard work was worth it. It was a moment where everything came into focus."
Widely regarded as one of Africa's top match officials, Omar was named the continent's best male referee in 2025 and officiated at the recent Africa Cup of Nations. His selection for the World Cup was celebrated across Somalia, with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud describing him as an inspiration to the country's youth.
FIFA has since acknowledged the situation but stressed that immigration decisions are beyond its control.
"FIFA is not involved in host country immigration processes, including visa adjudications, and has been informed by authorities that Omar's status will not be changed at present," the governing body said in a statement.
While Somalia's government continues diplomatic efforts to resolve the matter, Omar's chances of officiating at the tournament remain uncertain because all World Cup referees are required to be based at FIFA's training hub in Miami.
For now, Eby's intervention has provided a rare note of encouragement for the Somali official, whose remarkable rise from local football pitches in Mogadishu to the world's biggest sporting stage has been halted by circumstances beyond his control.
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