Somali referee Omar Artan has been appointed to officiate the 2026 UEFA Super Cup, marking a major milestone in his career after he was unable to participate in the FIFA World Cup in the United States due to visa restrictions.
The European football governing body, UEFA, confirmed that the 34-year-old will referee the high-profile clash between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa, scheduled for August 12 in Salzburg.
In its official statement, UEFA said the appointment followed consultations with the Confederation of African Football (CAF), noting Artan’s growing reputation on the international stage.
“Following discussions with its sister confederation, Confederation Africaine de Football (CAF), UEFA has today appointed Somali referee Omar Artan to officiate the 2026 UEFA Super Cup…” the statement read.
UEFA added that despite his relatively young age, Artan has established himself as one of the world’s leading referees and has been on the FIFA international list since 2018.
The governing body also highlighted his recent achievements, including officiating the second leg of the 2025–26 CAF Champions League final and receiving the CAF Men’s Referee of the Year Award 2025.
Artan had originally been selected among 52 match officials for the FIFA World Cup 2026, which would have made him the first Somali referee to officiate at the global tournament.
However, he was later removed from the list after being denied entry into the United States.
Speaking earlier about the setback in an interview with the New York Times, Artan expressed disappointment over the decision.
“I had the right papers and everything. I had the right visa. I am very, very disappointed.
”I’m just simply a referee who’s trying to live his dream, the biggest dream of my life, to come to the World Cup,” he said.
Reports indicate that Somalia is among countries affected by U.S. travel restrictions introduced last year, which impacted his participation in the tournament.
Despite the disappointment, Artan’s appointment to the UEFA Super Cup is seen as a significant recognition of his rise in international officiating and consistency at top-level competitions.
The upcoming match will see reigning Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain face Europa League champions Aston Villa, in one of Europe’s traditional curtain-raising fixtures for the new football season.
For Artan, the assignment represents both redemption and opportunity on one of football’s biggest stages in Europe.
