Somali soccer referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan on Wednesday (June 10) said the decision to bar him entry to the United States for the World Cup was "fate" and urged his fellow Somalis not to lose heart over it.

Artan, Africa's referee of the year in 2025, had been set to become the first Somali to officiate at soccer's global showpiece, but was turned back by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) over the weekend.

The Trump administration said on Tuesday (June 9) the U.S. had denied Artan entry for the World Cup because of his links to "suspected members of terror organizations."

"What happened has happened and it was fate. I am grateful for the support FIFA gave me," Artan told reporters after arriving in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, and urged his supporters to stand behind their country.

"Somalia is ours, whether things are good or bad. I want to tell our youth not to lose hope in our country," he said.

The Trump administration's strict immigration policies have been a point of concern before the World Cup, with Washington imposing a sweeping travel ban last year on citizens of 12 countries, including Somalia.

A FIFA spokesperson said Artan would now not be able to train or officiate at the tournament, which is being held in the U.S., Mexico and Canada and starts on Thursday.

Somalia's government said it had tried unsuccessfully to negotiate with the U.S. and FIFA so that Artan could enter the U.S. and was saddened by what had happened.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

1. SOMALI REFEREE OMAR ABDULAKADIR ARTAN LEAVING THE AIRPORT TERMINAL WITH OFFICIALS AND SUPPORTERS

2. ARTAN INTERACTING WITH PEOPLE OUTSIDE

3. (SOUNDBITE) (Somali) SOMALI REFEREE, OMAR ARTAN, SAYING:

"I would like to thank everyone who gathered here, including the ministers, members of the parliament, the Somali public, and the media. I would also like to give special thanks to my Somali government, which has stood by me and has supported me sincerely."

4. VARIOUS OF CHILDREN SINGING, WELCOMING ARTAN AT ADEN ADDE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

5. (SOUNDBITE) (Somali) SOMALI REFEREE, OMAR ARTAN, SAYING:

"What happened has happened and it is fate. FIFA has supported me well, and they have been following my journey closely up till now. I promise you that in the upcoming matches, I will go further and leave a positive mark. Somalia is ours, whether things are good or bad. I want to tell our youth not to lose hope in our country, that flag is ours."

6. VARIOUS OF ARTAN AND OTHER OFFICIALS SITTING DURING PRESS BRIEFING