Somali referee Omar Artan has been appointed to officiate the 2026 UEFA Super Cup, marking another major milestone in his rising international refereeing career.
The prestigious match, organised by UEFA, will take place on 12 August in Salzburg and will feature UEFA Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain against UEFA Europa League winners Aston Villa.
Artan, who has been on the FIFA international referees list since 2018 and was named CAF Men’s Referee of the Year in 2025, continues to establish himself as one of the most respected young referees on the global stage.
The appointment comes through cooperation between UEFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF), reflecting growing collaboration between the two governing bodies in developing refereeing standards worldwide.
Interestingly, Artan was previously included in FIFA’s match officials list for the 2026 World Cup, but was unable to participate due to visa restrictions preventing entry into the United States.
Despite that setback, his career trajectory remains impressive, with high-profile assignments across continental competitions, including CAF Champions League fixtures.
UEFA officials described him as a talented and experienced referee capable of handling top-level matches, while CAF leadership praised his achievements as a source of pride for African football and refereeing development.
His selection for the Super Cup is also seen as a symbolic moment highlighting football’s growing efforts to promote inclusivity and cooperation across confederations.
The match between PSG and Aston Villa is expected to draw global attention, and Artan will now take centre stage as the man in charge of proceedings in one of Europe’s elite curtain-raising fixtures.
