Somali Referee Replaces World Cup Dream With PSG vs Aston Villa
Somali referee Omar Artan has secured a blockbuster appointment to officiate the 2026 UEFA Super Cup in Salzburg, bouncing back just days after being denied entry to the United States for the FIFA World Cup.
Artan was forced to miss the World Cup due to tight immigration restrictions and vetting procedures implemented by President Donald Trump’s administration. Because FIFA centralizes its tournament operations at a mandatory match officials’ hub in Miami, Florida, Artan was legally unable to referee matches in co-hosting nations Canada or Mexico.
Stepping into the fray with a major gesture of international goodwill, UEFA utilized its standing partnership with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to hand the prestigious match to the reigning African Referee of the Year.
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The highly anticipated clash will take place on 12 August 2026 at the Red Bull Arena in Salzburg, Austria. The match pits UEFA Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain against UEFA Europa League champions Aston Villa.
The appointment marks the first time in football history that an official from outside Europe will referee the UEFA Super Cup.
“Following discussions with its sister confederation, the Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF), UEFA has today appointed Somali referee Omar Artan to officiate the 2026 UEFA Super Cup, which will take place on 12 August in Salzburg between UEFA Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain and UEFA Europa League winners Aston Villa FC,” UEFA said in a statement.
“Despite his young age, Artan has established himself as one of the world’s top referees and has been on the FIFA international list since 2018. Among the most notable matches he has officiated is the second leg of the 2025/26 CAF Champions League final. In recognition of his performances, he received the CAF Men’s Referee of the Year Award in 2025.
“Artan had been included on FIFA’s list of match officials for the 2026 FIFA World Cup but could not participate because he was not permitted to enter the United States.
“The decision to appoint Artan to officiate the UEFA Super Cup has been made within the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding recently signed between UEFA and CAF to encourage cooperation in several areas, including refereeing.
“UEFA and CAF are united by a shared commitment to developing football at all levels and promoting the core values of unity, equality and non-discrimination.”
Artan handled the second leg of the CAF Champions League final, as Mamelodi Sundowns lifted the tournament against FAR Rabat in Morocco.
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UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin welcomed the decision.
“Omar Artan is an excellent young, yet already experienced referee who has proven himself at the highest level of competition within the Confederation of African Football.
“Football is meant to connect people, and UEFA wants to show its respect for Omar and his outstanding officiating skills, which have earned him such a prestigious appointment. I am grateful to my friend, CAF president Patrice Motsepe, for enthusiastically supporting our initiative.”
CAF president Dr Patrice Motsepe also praised Artan’s achievement.
“Omar Artan has made Somalia and the entire African continent extremely proud. His receipt of the CAF Men’s Referee of the Year Award in 2025 and his appointment as a referee for the 2026 FIFA World Cup are recognition of his world-class refereeing ability and the international respect he enjoys.
“I am very thankful to my friend Aleksander Čeferin for enabling Omar Artan to officiate the 2026 UEFA Super Cup.
“This is a great honour for Omar Artan and for African referees. It is also an excellent example of football bringing together and uniting people from Africa, Europe and across the world.”
