SALZBURG — In a significant gesture of solidarity, UEFA has announced that Somali referee Omar Artan will officiate the 2026 UEFA Super Cup final between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa on August 12 in Salzburg, Austria.

The appointment follows a highly publicized incident earlier this week in which Artan, who had been selected as an official for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, was denied entry into the United States by border officials at Miami International Airport.

The Path to Salzburg

Artan, the 2025 Confederation of African Football (CAF) Men's Referee of the Year, was set to become the first Somali official to referee at a World Cup finals. Despite holding a diplomatic passport and a valid single-entry U.S. visa, he was turned away by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

U.S. government officials stated that the denial was due to an "association with suspected members of terror organizations," a claim for which no public evidence was provided. FIFA subsequently confirmed that Artan would be unable to participate in the World Cup following discussions with U.S. authorities.

UEFA’s Official Response

In response to the controversy, UEFA has utilized the Memorandum of Understanding between itself and CAF to offer Artan the prestigious assignment of the Super Cup.

UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin praised Artan’s caliber, stating: "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."

Ceferin also expressed gratitude to CAF President Patrice Motsepe for his support of the initiative.

Context of the Super Cup

The match on August 12 will feature the reigning UEFA Champions League winners, Paris Saint-Germain, against the UEFA Europa League winners, Aston Villa. For Artan, the assignment serves as a major international stage to continue his career, which has seen him on the FIFA international list since 2018 and includes officiating high-profile matches such as the 2025/26 CAF Champions League final.