Monday July 20, 2026
Mogadishu (HOL) — Somali Football Federation (SFF) Chairman Ali Shiine said Somalia’s presence at the final stages of the 2026 FIFA World Cup offers a historic opportunity to raise the country’s football profile.
Speaking in an interview with Somali National Television on Sunday, Shiine said Somalia is among the countries invited to attend the later stages of the tournament, including the semifinals and final.
“I had meetings with top football officials in the world, including FIFA President Gianni Infantino, and discussed the situation and development of Somali football,” Shiine said.
He said FIFA has expressed interest in strengthening relations with Somalia and that he hopes Infantino will visit Mogadishu by the end of the year.
Such a visit would mark the first by a FIFA president to Somalia.
Shiine also addressed the exclusion of Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan from the 2026 World Cup after he was denied entry to the United States.
He said FIFA and the Somali government have discussed the matter and expressed hope that a similar incident would not happen again.
Artan, one of Africa’s top football officials, was named Africa’s best male referee in 2025. He was denied entry after arriving at Miami International Airport from Istanbul last week.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection said Artan was “inadmissible due to vetting concerns.”
A person familiar with the matter said Artan is still expected to receive his full tournament fee despite not officiating matches. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.
The fee is expected to be determined after the tournament concludes next month.
Shiine said the expansion of the 2026 World Cup to 48 teams creates a major opportunity for African countries by increasing their chances of reaching the tournament’s highest levels.
He said African football is developing rapidly and pointed to new teams from the continent showing growing competitiveness.
Shiine also said East African countries could have strong opportunities in the coming years.
“I hope that in the coming years we will see countries from East Africa appearing in the World Cup for the first time,” he said.
The SFF chairman called on Somali fans to support players, invest in football and help build a future in which Somalia can compete for a place at the World Cup.
