UEFA has appointed Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan to officiate the 2026 UEFA Super Cup.
The match is set for August 12 in Salzburg, Austria, between Paris Saint-Germain, the Champions League winners, and Aston Villa, the Europa League winners. The appointment came after discussions between UEFA and the Confederation of African Football as part of their refereeing cooperation.
Artan, 34, was selected earlier this year as one of the match officials for the FIFA World Cup 2026. He would have been the first referee from Somalia to work at the tournament. However, U.S. authorities denied him entry at Miami airport in early June despite a valid visa. FIFA confirmed he could not take part in the event due to the entry decision.
Artan returned to Somalia on June 10 and received a hero’s welcome in Mogadishu. He has been recognized as Africa’s best men’s referee in 2025 and has officiated major matches, including the 2025 CAF Champions League final.The Super Cup assignment gives the Somali official a prominent European stage.