Somali referee, Omar Artan will officiate the 2026 UEFA Super Cup between UEFA Champions League winners, Paris Saint-Germain and UEFA Europa League winners, Aston Villa.
ThelensNG reports that Artan was included by FIFA on the list of match officials for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but his participation did not come to fruition as he was denied entry into the United States.
However, UEFA confirmed Artan’s appointment in a media release on Thursday, noting that the decision was reached following discussions with its sister confederation, the Confederation of African 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 Saint-Germain and UEFA Europa League winners Aston Villa FC,” the European governing body said.
According to UEFA, 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.
The governing body highlighted notable matches Artan has officiated, including the second leg of the 2025/2026 CAF Champions League final.
“In recognition of his performances, he received the CAF Men’s Referee of the Year Award 2025,” it stated.
The governing body explained that the decision to appoint Artan to the Super Cup was made within the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) recently signed between UEFA and CAF to encourage cooperation in various areas, including refereeing.
“UEFA and CAF are united by a shared commitment to developing football at all levels and promoting the core values of unity, equality, and non-discrimination,” it added.
Commenting on the appointment, UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin described Omar Artan as an excellent young but already experienced referee who has proven himself at the highest level of competition in the Confederation of African Football.
Čeferin stated that football is meant to connect people, and UEFA wants to show respect for Artan and his outstanding officiating skills, which earned him such a prestigious nomination.
“I am grateful to my friend CAF President Patrice Motsepe for supporting enthusiastically our initiative,” he added.
On his part, CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe noted that Artan has made Somalia and the entire African continent extremely proud, stressing that his receipt of the CAF Men’s Referee of the Year Award 2025 and his appointment as a FIFA World Cup 2026 match official are recognition of his world-class refereeing ability and international respect.
Motsepe expressed gratitude to Čeferin for enabling Artan to officiate the 2026 UEFA Super Cup.
He further stated: “This is a great honour for Omar Artan and for African referees, and it is also an excellent example of football bringing together and uniting people from Africa, Europe, and around the world.”
