Somali referee Omar Artan’s World Cup dream ended at the border, after he was not allowed to enter the United States for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Days later, UEFA has handed him one of European football’s biggest appointments.
Artan has been selected to officiate the 2026 UEFA Super Cup, which will be played on August 12 in Salzburg between UEFA Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain and UEFA Europa League winners Aston Villa.
UEFA announced the decision today after discussions with the Confederation of African Football.
Despite his young age, Artan has built his name among the top referees on the continent. He has been on the FIFA international list since 2018 and handled major fixtures, including the second leg of the 2025/26 CAF Champions League final.
His rise was further recognised when he was named CAF Men’s Referee of the Year in 2025.
Artan had been listed by FIFA among the match officials for the 2026 World Cup but could not take part after he was denied entry into the United States.
UEFA said his Super Cup appointment was made under the recently signed Memorandum of Understanding with CAF, which seeks to deepen cooperation between the two bodies in several areas, including refereeing.
UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin described Artan as an excellent young referee who had already proved himself at the highest level in African football.
“Football is made to connect people, and UEFA wants to show its respect to Omar and his outstanding officiating skills,” Čeferin said.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe said Artan had made Somalia and Africa proud.
“Omar Artan has made Somalia and the entire people of the African continent extremely proud,” Motsepe said.
Motsepe said Artan’s CAF award and World Cup selection showed the international respect he commands as a referee.
He also thanked UEFA for giving Artan the opportunity to handle the Super Cup, describing it as a major honour for African referees and an example of football bringing people together.
