UEFA has appointed Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan to officiate the 2026 UEFA Super Cup, following his exclusion from the FIFA World Cup after being denied entry into the United States. The 34-year-old official, who was selected among 52 match officials for the World Cup, saw his dream shattered when U.S. authorities refused him entry. In response, European football's governing body has given him a prestigious assignment.
Artan to Officiate PSG vs. Aston Villa
UEFA confirmed that Artan will take charge of the 2026 UEFA Super Cup match between UEFA Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain and UEFA Europa League champions Aston Villa. The game is scheduled for August 12 in Salzburg, Austria. The appointment came after discussions with the Confederation of African Football under a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at strengthening cooperation between the two bodies.
UEFA Praises Artan's Skills
UEFA described Artan as one of the world's leading young referees, despite his age. He has been on the FIFA international list since 2018 and has officiated major African competitions, including the second leg of the 2025/26 CAF Champions League final. In 2025, he was named CAF Men's Referee of the Year for his outstanding performances.
Ceferin and Motsepe Hail Appointment
UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin praised Artan, stating, "Omar Artan is an excellent young but already experienced referee, who has proven himself at the highest competition level of CAF. Football is made to connect people, and UEFA wants to show its respect to Omar and his outstanding officiating skills." CAF President Patrice Motsepe added, "Omar Artan has made Somalia and the entire African continent extremely proud. This is a great honour for him and for African referees."
Why Artan Missed the World Cup
Artan traveled to Miami for the pre-tournament referee camp with proper documents and FIFA accreditation. However, he underwent an 11-hour immigration interview before being detained and returned to Istanbul. A White House official cited "derogatory information, including association with suspected members of terror organisations," without providing specifics. Andrew Giuliani, head of the White House Task Force on the World Cup, defended the decision, saying it was right. Because all World Cup officials were based in Florida for security, Artan could not officiate matches elsewhere.
US Warning to Influencers
In a related development, the U.S. government warned foreign influencers against earning money from online content while on tourist visas, threatening deportation for violations. This comes amid heightened security measures for the World Cup.
