UEFA Names Omar Artan Referee For Super Cup Final After US Entry Denial For World Cup
Somali referee Omar Artan earns UEFA Super Cup appointment after US entry denial ended his World Cup hopes.
Somali referee Omar Artan earns UEFA Super Cup appointment after US entry denial ended his World Cup hopes.
Somali referee Omar Artan has been appointed to officiate the 2026 UEFA Super Cup after being denied the opportunity to officiate at the FIFA World Cup in the United States.
European football’s governing body, UEFA, announced that the 34-year-old will take charge of the Super Cup clash between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa in Salzburg on August 12.
In a statement, UEFA said: “Following discussions with its sister confederation, Confederation 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 St Germain and UEFA Europa League winners Aston Villa FC.
“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 2025.
“Artan had been included by FIFA in the match officials’ list for the FIFA World Cup 2026 but could not participate as he was not allowed to enter the United States.”
Artan had been set to become the first Somali referee to officiate at a FIFA World Cup after being named among 52 match officials selected for the tournament. However, FIFA later removed him from the list after he was denied entry into the United States.
Reacting to the decision in an interview with the New York Times, Artan said: “I had the right papers and everything. I had the right visa. I am very, very disappointed. I’m just simply a referee who’s trying to live his dream, the biggest dream of my life, to come to the World Cup.”
Somalia is among several countries whose citizens are subject to a US travel ban introduced last year.
Artan will now oversee one of European football’s biggest annual fixtures as PSG, who retained the UEFA Champions League title after defeating Arsenal on penalties in Budapest, face Europa League winners Aston Villa, who secured their continental crown against SC Freiburg in Istanbul.
