Nyon, Switzerland: UEFA has appointed Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan to officiate the 2026 UEFA Super Cup, barely days after he was denied entry into the United States and forced to miss the FIFA World Cup.
The 34-year-old will take charge of the prestigious season-opening European showdown between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa on August 12 in Salzburg, Austria.
Artan had been selected among FIFA’s match officials for the 2026 World Cup but was unable to participate after U.S. authorities denied him entry despite reportedly holding a valid visa. FIFA later confirmed that he would not officiate at the tournament.
His exclusion sparked international debate, with critics questioning how a referee selected by FIFA for the world’s biggest football tournament could be prevented from entering a host country. Reports indicated that U.S. authorities cited unspecified vetting concerns.
UEFA announced Thursday that Artan’s appointment followed discussions with the Confederation of African Football and forms part of a newly signed cooperation agreement between the European and African football governing bodies.
The move has widely been interpreted as a strong vote of confidence in one of Africa’s most highly rated referees.
Artan was named CAF Men’s Referee of the Year in 2025 and has steadily risen through the ranks of international officiating. He became the first Somali referee to oversee a continental club final when he took charge of the CAF Champions League final involving Egypt’s Pyramids FC and South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns.
From World Cup Heartbreak to European Spotlight
The UEFA Super Cup appointment offers a major consolation for Artan, who had been set to make history as the first Somali referee to officiate at a FIFA World Cup.
Instead of appearing at the tournament in North America, he will now oversee one of European football’s most high-profile fixtures.
The match will pit UEFA Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain against UEFA Europa League holders Aston Villa in Salzburg.
Football officials from both UEFA and CAF praised Artan’s professionalism and officiating standards, saying the appointment reflects his standing among the world’s elite referees.
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