Somali referee Omar Artan has been handed one of the biggest assignments in world football after being appointed to officiate the 2026 UEFA Super Cup, marking a significant milestone for African refereeing.
The announcement by UEFA comes hours after his heroic reception at home following a visa rejection in the US to officiate the World Cup, which is set to begin today.
UEFA said the appointment, following consultations with CAF, will see Artan take charge of the season-opening European showpiece on August 12 in Salzburg. The match will pit Paris Saint-Germain against Aston Villa FC.
The appointment is a major boost for African football officials and comes months after Artan was recognized as CAF Men’s Referee of the Year 2025.
Despite his relatively young age, the Somali official has built a reputation as one of Africa’s finest referees since joining the FIFA international list in 2018.
Among the high-profile matches he has overseen is the second leg of the 2025/26 CAF Champions League final, a performance that further cemented his standing on the continent.
Artan’s latest assignment carries added significance after he missed the opportunity to officiate at the 2026 FIFA World Cup despite being named among FIFA’s selected match officials. He was unable to participate after not being granted entry into the United States, where the tournament is being staged.
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UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin described Artan as an outstanding referee who has consistently demonstrated his quality at the highest level of African football.
“Football is made to connect people, and UEFA wants to show its respect to Omar and his outstanding officiating skills, which have earned him such a prestigious nomination,” Čeferin said.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe hailed the appointment as a moment of pride for Somalia and the African continent.
“His appointment as a referee of the UEFA Super Cup is a recognition of his world-class refereeing ability and the international respect that he enjoys,” said Motsepe.
The decision forms part of a recently signed cooperation agreement between UEFA and CAF aimed at strengthening collaboration across several areas of football development, including refereeing.
For African football, Artan’s appointment represents more than an individual achievement. It signals growing recognition of the quality of African match officials on the global stage and highlights expanding cooperation between the continent’s governing body and European football authorities.
