Omar Artan appointed referee for 2026 UEFA Super Cup

Top African referee Omar Artan will officiate the 2026 UEFA Super Cup. The match pits European champions Paris Saint-Germain against Europa League winners Aston Villa on August 12. Earlier this week Artan was denied entry to the United States despite being named among CAF’s seven World Cup representatives. He was set to become the first Somali to officiate at the 2026 World Cup and endured an 11‑hour immigration interview. FIFA confirmed the visa decision will not be overturned. After a hero’s welcome on his forced return to Somalia, Artan received the Super Cup appointment. UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin said Artan is an excellent young but already experienced referee who has proven himself at the highest CAF competition level. Ceferin added that UEFA wants to show respect for Artan’s outstanding officiating skills. CAF president Patrice Motsepe noted Artan’s receipt of the CAF Men’s Referee of the Year Award 2025 and his World Cup appointment as recognition of his world‑class ability. Motsepe said the achievements make Somalia and the African continent extremely proud. US World Cup task‑force executive director Andrew Giuliani insisted the visa denial was correct, stating that 35 teams have entered the United States without any players or coaches being denied. Giuliani said some officials have been denied for good reason. Fox News reported the Donald Trump Administration believed Artan had an association with suspected members of terror organisations, though no further evidence was provided. Artan maintains he arrived in Miami with a diplomatic passport and a single‑entry US visa. talkSPORT co‑host Simon Jordan called the UEFA decision a classic case of opportunism and suggested UEFA dislikes the World Cup’s impact on domestic football. Former USMNT goalkeeper Brad Friedel said political directives in the United States may be behind the visa outcome, adding that Americans are frustrated by the lack of transparency.