Omar Artan to Officiate 2026 UEFA Super Cup After World Cup Visa Denial

The upcoming UEFA Super Cup will see Somali referee Omar Artan take charge of the match between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa. This appointment comes following his unexpected exclusion from officiating at the 2026 World Cup.

Historic Appointment

At 34 years old, Artan is set to become the first non-European referee to lead the UEFA Super Cup. He previously made history by becoming the first Somali official to oversee the CAF Champions League final and earned the African federation's men's referee of the year award in 2025.

World Cup Visa Controversy

Artan was initially selected to referee at the 2026 World Cup. However, upon arriving in Miami—the base for FIFA officials during the tournament—on June 8, he was denied entry into the United States. Despite having a valid visa and all necessary documentation, U.S. authorities subjected him to extra screening and ultimately rejected his entry due to "vetting concerns." Somalia remains on the travel ban list introduced under the previous U.S. administration.

A FIFA spokesperson clarified: “FIFA can confirm that match official Omar Abdulkadir Artan will be unable to train and officiate at the FIFA World Cup 2026 after he was denied entry into the United States. FIFA is not involved in host country immigration processes, including visa adjudications.”

UEFA's Support and Solidarity

Three days after the visa refusal, UEFA announced Artan would officiate the Super Cup as part of a new cooperation agreement with the Confederation of African Football (CAF), aiming to foster closer ties in refereeing among other areas.

“Football is made to connect people, and UEFA wants to show its respect to Omar and his outstanding officiating skills, which had earned him such a prestigious nomination,” said UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin. “I am grateful to my friend CAF president Patrice Motsepe for supporting our initiative enthusiastically.”

Artan expressed gratitude for the global support he has received and shared how meaningful the Super Cup appointment is for him and his family. He noted the pride within the Somali community across Europe and Austria, saying, “There’s a big Somali community in Europe and in Austria, and they are over the moon with me officiating a match like this.”

Reflecting on his journey, he added, “I have worked very hard to be here and I’m really proud. As you can imagine, I grew up in a difficult situation, but it didn’t prevent me from pursuing my dreams.”