Omar Artan has been handed one of the biggest assignments of his career after UEFA named him referee for the 2026 UEFA Super Cup.

The appointment comes just weeks after Artan’s dream of officiating at the 2026 FIFA World Cup ended when he was denied entry into the United States, one of the tournament’s host nations.

The 34-year-old Somali official will oversee the Super Cup clash between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa in Salzburg on August 12.

UEFA said the decision followed consultations with the Confederation of African Football and highlighted Artan’s rapid rise among the world’s top referees. He has been on FIFA’s international refereeing list since 2018 and was recognised as CAF Men’s Referee of the Year in 2025 after several high-profile performances, including officiating the second leg of the CAF Champions League final.

Artan had initially been selected among the officials for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a historic achievement that would have made him the first Somali referee to work at football’s biggest tournament. However, he was later removed from the officiating roster after being denied entry into the United States despite holding the required travel documents.

Speaking about the disappointment, Artan described the decision as heartbreaking, saying it had denied him the opportunity to fulfil a lifelong ambition.

Rather than allowing the setback to define his year, the Somali referee now receives another prestigious assignment on one of European football’s biggest stages.

The Super Cup will feature reigning Champions League holders PSG against Europa League winners Aston Villa, with Artan becoming one of the few African referees entrusted with officiating a major UEFA final.

For many observers, the appointment serves as recognition of Artan’s performances and professionalism, while also ensuring that one of Africa’s most highly regarded referees remains in the spotlight despite missing out on the World Cup.