Somalia’s Omar Artan to referee UEFA Super Cup after World Cup setback

Somali referee Omar Artan has been appointed to officiate the 2026 UEFA Super Cup, a landmark recognition for one of Africa’s most highly regarded match officials after he was unable to participate in the FIFA World Cup 2026 despite being selected by FIFA.

UEFA announced that the 34-year-old will take charge of the prestigious season-opening clash between UEFA Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain and UEFA Europa League holders Aston Villa.

The match will be played on August 12, 2026, at Stadion Salzburg (Red Bull Arena) in Salzburg, Austria, marking the first time the UEFA Super Cup has been staged in Austria and the first major UEFA club final ever hosted in Salzburg.

Artan’s appointment comes just days after he was forced to withdraw from World Cup duty following a decision by United States immigration authorities to deny him entry into the country.

FIFA had included the Somali official among the referees selected for the expanded 2026 World Cup, where he was set to become the first Somali referee in history to officiate at football's biggest tournament.

According to FIFA and multiple international media reports, Artan was denied entry upon arrival in Miami despite holding a valid visa.

US authorities cited immigration and security-related concerns linked to travel restrictions affecting Somalia, while other reports indicated allegations of links to extremist organizations, claims for which no public evidence has been provided.

FIFA subsequently confirmed that Artan would be unable to officiate at the tournament because immigration decisions remain under the jurisdiction of the host nation.

Born in Somalia, Artan has emerged as one of Africa’s elite referees over the past decade.

He joined the FIFA international list in 2018 and has steadily climbed the ranks through a series of impressive performances in CAF competitions.

His most notable assignments include matches at the Africa Cup of Nations, FIFA tournaments, and the second leg of the 2025/26 CAF Champions League final

In recognition of his consistency and excellence, he was named CAF Men’s Referee of the Year in 2025.

UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin described Artan as an outstanding referee who has demonstrated his abilities at the highest levels of African football, while CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe hailed the appointment as a moment of pride for Somalia and the entire African continent.

The decision forms part of a recently signed cooperation agreement between UEFA and CAF aimed at strengthening collaboration in areas including refereeing development and technical exchange.

Artan’s selection is also historically significant.

No African referee has previously been appointed to officiate the UEFA Super Cup, making the Somali official the first from the continent to receive such an assignment.

The appointment represents a major milestone for African refereeing and underlines the growing international recognition of match officials emerging from CAF competitions.

For Artan, missing out on the World Cup was a bitter disappointment.

However, taking charge of one of UEFA’s most prestigious fixtures offers an opportunity to showcase his talent on another global stage and further cement his reputation among the world’s elite referees.