Somali referee Omar Artan has been appointed to officiate the 2026 UEFA Super Cup final, weeks after a visa-related setback prevented him from entering the United States to join preparations for the FIFA World Cup.
The 34-year-old official will take charge of the prestigious season-opening clash between UEFA Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain and UEFA Europa League champions Aston Villa in Salzburg, Austria, on August 12.
Artan’s appointment comes amid ongoing debate over his exclusion from the United States, where he was expected to participate in training and briefing sessions for match officials selected for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He was denied entry upon arrival in Miami, with U.S. authorities citing unspecified “vetting concerns.”
Despite criticism surrounding the incident, UEFA has moved to recognise the highly-rated Somali official by awarding him one of the continent’s most prestigious refereeing assignments.
In a statement, UEFA described Artan as one of Africa’s most accomplished match officials and highlighted his rapid rise within international football.
“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,” UEFA said.
The European football governing body noted that Artan officiated the second leg of the 2025/26 CAF Champions League final and was named CAF Men’s Referee of the Year in 2025 in recognition of his outstanding performances.
UEFA explained that the appointment was made under the framework of a recently signed Memorandum of Understanding between UEFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF), aimed at strengthening cooperation in areas including refereeing development.
“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 many areas, including refereeing,” the statement said.
UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin praised Artan’s credentials, describing him as a referee who has consistently demonstrated excellence at the highest level of African football.
“Omar Artan is an excellent young but already experienced referee who has proven himself at the highest competition level of the Confederation of African Football,” Ceferin said.
“Football is meant to connect people, and UEFA wants to show its respect for Omar and his outstanding officiating skills, which earned him such a prestigious nomination.”
The appointment is particularly significant as it will make Artan the first African referee to officiate a major UEFA final.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe welcomed the development, describing it as a landmark moment for African football and refereeing.
“Omar Artan has made Somalia and the entire African continent extremely proud,” Motsepe said.
“His appointment as a FIFA World Cup referee and his recognition as CAF Men’s Referee of the Year reflect his world-class ability and the international respect he enjoys.”
Motsepe added that the assignment demonstrates football’s power to unite people across continents and cultures.
“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 around the world,” he said.
Artan’s appointment is being widely viewed as a significant milestone for African officiating and a strong endorsement of the growing cooperation between UEFA and CAF in advancing football development globally.
