UEFA Super Cup 2026: Omar Artan Makes History as First Non-European Referee

On August 12, Salzburg hosts a UEFA Super Cup that will be remembered for more than the clash between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa. For the first time in the competition's history, a non-European referee will take charge. Omar Artan, a 34-year-old Somali official, steps onto the pitch carrying a story that spans continents, setbacks, and a community's pride.

Artan's journey to this moment is anything but linear. In June, he was denied entry to the United States at Miami International Airport, where he was scheduled to officiate at the FIFA World Cup. Somalia is one of 12 countries on a US travel ban list introduced last year. FIFA president Gianni Infantino suggested he was powerless to overrule the administration's decision. Days later, UEFA awarded Artan the Super Cup assignment.

“When we got this call it was, for me and my family, really a very, very happy moment,” Artan said. “There’s a big Somali community in Europe and in Austria and they are over the moon with me officiating a match like this.”

Artan's rise has been marked by firsts. He became the first Somali to oversee a CAF Champions League final, received the CAF Men’s Referee of the Year Award 2025, and officiated the third-place match at the FIFA U-20 World Cup Chile 2025. His appointment to the Super Cup adds another milestone. But the path wasn't smooth. Artan grew up in difficult circumstances, losing his father early and being raised apart from his mother. He started refereeing informal games, then school fixtures, and eventually the Somali league.

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

The Super Cup will be officiated by Artan with assistants Liban Abdulrazack (Djibouti) and Eliezer Stephen Yiembe (Kenya). Before Salzburg, the trio will handle the CECAFA Kagame Cup final on August 7 at Amahoro Stadium in Kigali, using the match as preparation. CECAFA President Paulos Weldehaimanot Andemariam called Artan “a symbol of excellence in African refereeing.”

Artan's appointment has resonated far beyond the pitch. He received a hero's welcome upon returning to Mogadishu after the World Cup exclusion. Somali communities across Europe and Austria have rallied around him. His story is a reminder that setbacks can be stepping stones, and that dreams, as he puts it, are worth chasing.

“It was a very tough period,” Artan said. “A lot of people have sympathy for me because when someone has been working a lot of years and is supposed to do something, and then can’t do it, it’s very challenging. I really appreciate the support I received throughout the world, though; I’m so grateful.”

As the football world watches Salzburg, the spotlight will be on Artan—not just for his decisions, but for what his presence represents. He is the first non-European to officiate this match, but he likely won't be the last. His journey, from informal games in Somalia to the biggest club stage in Europe, is a testament to perseverance.

The Super Cup is a celebration of football's best, but this year it's also a celebration of resilience. Omar Artan's whistle will echo in Salzburg, and his story will resonate long after the final whistle.