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Omar Abdulkadir Artan Makes History as First Somali🇸🇴 Referee Selected for FIFA World Cup Tournament

Omar Abdulkadir Artan has etched his name in the history books as the first Somali referee selected to officiate at a FIFA World Cup tournament.

He will serve as one of only three centre referees chosen from Africa—and the sole representative from Sub-Saharan Africa—at the FIFA U-20 World Cup 2025.

A trailblazer in Somali football, Artan has consistently broken new ground.

He became the first Somali referee to officiate a continental final, presiding over the CAF Confederation Cup final where Egypt’s Pyramids FC defeated South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns in Cairo. His credentials also include officiating at the prestigious Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Artan’s rise signals a new chapter for Somali football on the global stage, inspiring a new generation of referees from the Horn of Africa.

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