Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan has been appointed to officiate the 2026 UEFA Super Cup between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Aston Villa FC, just weeks after being unable to participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. UEFA announced the appointment on Thursday following discussions with its sister confederation, the Confederation of African Football (CAF). The prestigious match will be played on August 12, 2026, in Salzburg, Austria, bringing together UEFA Champions League winners PSG and UEFA Europa League winners Aston Villa. The 34-year-old Artan is widely regarded as one of Africa’s lead
Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan has been appointed to officiate the 2026 UEFA Super Cup between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Aston Villa FC, just weeks after being unable to participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
UEFA announced the appointment on Thursday following discussions with its sister confederation, the Confederation of African Football (CAF). The prestigious match will be played on August 12, 2026, in Salzburg, Austria, bringing together UEFA Champions League winners PSG and UEFA Europa League winners Aston Villa.
The 34-year-old Artan is widely regarded as one of Africa’s leading referees. He has been on the FIFA international referees list since 2018 and has steadily built a reputation as one of the continent’s finest match officials.
Among the biggest matches in his career was officiating the second leg of the 2025/26 CAF Champions League final, a performance that further cemented his standing in world football. In recognition of his outstanding displays throughout the year, Artan was named CAF Men’s Referee of the Year 2025.
His appointment to the UEFA Super Cup comes after a disappointing setback earlier this year. Although FIFA included him among the officials selected for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Artan was unable to participate after reportedly being denied entry into the United States, one of the tournament's host nations.
UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin praised the Somali official, describing him as a talented referee who has already proven his ability at the highest level.
"Omar Artan is an excellent young but already experienced referee, who has proven himself at the highest competition level of the Confederation of African Football. 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 Čeferin.
CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe also welcomed the decision, saying Artan's achievements have made Somalia and the entire African continent proud.
"Omar Artan has made Somalia and the entire people of the African continent extremely proud. His receipt of the CAF Men’s Referee of the Year Award 2025 and his appointment as a referee of the FIFA World Cup 2026 are a recognition of his world-class refereeing ability and the international respect that he enjoys," said Motsepe.
The appointment forms part of the recently signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between UEFA and CAF, which aims to strengthen cooperation between the two confederations in several areas, including referee development.
CAF Referee of the Year 2025 Omar Abdulkadir Artan will officiate the 2026 UEFA Super Cup between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa in Salzburg, Austria.
For Artan, the UEFA Super Cup assignment represents a significant milestone in his career and serves as recognition of his growing influence in international football officiating. It is also a proud moment for African refereeing, highlighting the increasing recognition of African match officials on the global stage.
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