FIFA President Infantino's planned Somalia visit marks major boost for Somali football

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FIFA President Infantino’s planned Somalia visit marks major boost for Somali football

FIFA President Gianni Infantino. (Photo: FKF)

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The planned visit comes as Somalia seeks to strengthen its relationship with world football’s governing body and raise the country’s profile through international football activities.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino is expected to visit Mogadishu before the end of the year in what would become the first official trip to Somalia by a sitting FIFA president, according to Somali Football Federation (SFF) Chairman Ali Shiine.
The planned visit comes as Somalia seeks to strengthen its relationship with world football’s governing body and raise the country’s profile through international football activities.
Shiine announced the planned visit during an interview broadcast on Somali National Television, where he said Somalia’s participation in activities surrounding the closing stages of the 2026 FIFA World Cup has created an opportunity to promote the country’s football on the international stage.

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He said FIFA has expressed its willingness to strengthen cooperation with Somalia and that discussions are continuing with the aim of arranging Infantino’s visit to Mogadishu before the end of the year.
If the visit takes place as planned, it will mark the first time a serving FIFA president has officially travelled to Somalia.
Shiine said the engagement with FIFA reflects growing efforts to support football development in the country through closer cooperation with international football authorities. He added that Somalia’s involvement in World Cup activities offers another chance to build stronger ties with FIFA while increasing the country’s visibility in global football.
The SFF chairman also addressed the absence of Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan from the 2026 FIFA World Cup after he was denied entry into the United States despite being selected to officiate during the tournament.
Shiine said the matter had been discussed between FIFA and the Somali government and expressed confidence that similar situations would be avoided in the future.
Artan, who was named Africa’s best male referee in 2025, travelled from Istanbul to Miami to take up his World Cup assignment but was refused entry upon arrival at Miami International Airport last week.
The US Customs and Border Protection agency said Artan was “inadmissible due to vetting concerns.”
Despite missing the tournament, a person familiar with the matter said Artan is expected to receive his full World Cup officiating fee. The source, who requested anonymity because they were not authorised to comment publicly, said the final payment will be calculated after the tournament concludes next month.
Shiine also welcomed FIFA’s decision to expand the World Cup from 32 to 48 teams, saying the increase in participating nations creates more qualification opportunities for African countries. He said football standards across the continent continue to improve, with more African national teams competing strongly in international competitions.
He added that countries in East Africa are also making progress and have a realistic chance of qualifying for future editions of the FIFA World Cup.
“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.
Shiine called on Somali football supporters to continue supporting the national team and contribute to the development of the sport across the country. He said cooperation between football authorities, players, supporters and other stakeholders will be important if Somalia is to achieve its long-term ambition of qualifying for a future FIFA World Cup.
The expected visit by Infantino, together with Somalia’s participation in activities linked to the closing stages of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, represents another step in the Somali Football Federation’s efforts to strengthen its international partnerships and create more opportunities for the country’s football on the global stage.

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