By Horn Africa News
Mogadishu – Somali international referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan has been officially selected as one of the 18 central referees for the upcoming FIFA U-20 World Cup 2025, which will take place in Chile from September 27 to October 19, 2025.
Artan, who officiated the final of the CAF Champions League 2024/2025, is among the six referees chosen from Africa for the prestigious youth tournament. He will be joined by Kenyan assistant referee Gilbert Cheruiyot, who was also selected for the event.
FIFA’s Referees Committee released the full list of match officials, including 18 central referees, 36 assistant referees, and a team of Football Video Support (FVS) officials, who will all play crucial roles during the tournament.
Artan has been on the FIFA International Referees List since 2018 and has made a swift rise from domestic officiating to the global stage. Earlier this year, he made history by becoming the first Somali referee to officiate at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2024).
His latest appointment is seen as a major achievement not only for Artan personally but also for Somali football, marking continued progress and representation at the highest levels of international sport.
