Somali referee Omar Artan has been appointed to officiate the 2026 UEFA Super Cup final just days after being denied entry into the United States to participate in the FIFA World Cup.
UEFA announced on Thursday that Artan will take charge of the Super Cup clash between UEFA Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain and UEFA Europa League winners Aston Villa on August 12 in Salzburg, Austria.
The appointment comes amid continuing controversy over Artan’s exclusion from the United States, one of the host nations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Artan, 34, travelled to Miami earlier this week to join other FIFA match officials ahead of the World Cup. However, U.S. authorities denied him entry and returned him to Somalia.
A statement from U.S. Customs and Border Protection cited “vetting concerns” as the reason for the decision.
The incident sparked criticism of FIFA, with many questioning why the governing body failed to resolve the issue before the tournament.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino responded to the criticism by urging observers to “chill and relax” when asked about the matter.
Sources told ESPN that relocating Artan to fellow host nations Canada or Mexico would be impractical because World Cup referees are required to attend training sessions and briefings in Miami.
In a statement, UEFA confirmed that Artan’s appointment followed discussions with the Confederation of African Football as part of a cooperation agreement between the two football bodies.
UEFA said the decision was made under a recently signed Memorandum of Understanding aimed at strengthening collaboration in several areas, including refereeing.
The European governing body added that the initiative reflects a shared commitment to promoting unity, equality and non-discrimination through football.
Artan’s selection makes him the first African referee to officiate a major UEFA final.
Despite his age, he is regarded as one of Africa’s leading match officials. He has been on FIFA’s international referees list since 2018 and officiated the second leg of the 2025-26 CAF Champions League final.
His performances earned him the CAF Men’s Referee of the Year award in 2025.
UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin praised the Somali official, describing him as a talented referee who has consistently delivered at the highest level.
“Football is made to connect people,” Čeferin said, adding that UEFA wanted to recognise Artan’s achievements and professionalism.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe welcomed the appointment and described it as a proud moment for Somalia and the African continent.
According to Motsepe, Artan’s recognition reflects both his refereeing ability and the respect he has earned internationally.
He said the appointment serves as an example of football’s ability to unite people across continents and cultures.
Although Artan’s World Cup role remains uncertain following his exclusion from the United States, his appointment to the UEFA Super Cup represents a significant milestone in his career.
The match between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa will place him on one of European football’s biggest stages and further cement his reputation as one of the game’s rising refereeing talents.
