The announcement was made by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) on Thursday, June 11, 2026, confirming that Artan will take charge of one of Europe’s most high-profile club fixtures.
The appointment comes as part of the ongoing cooperation between the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and UEFA aimed at promoting the development of football and refereeing standards across Africa. Through this partnership, an African referee has been selected to officiate the annual showpiece event.
UEFA stated that Artan earned the opportunity following an outstanding 2025/2026 season, during which he became the first Somali referee to officiate the second leg of the CAF Champions League final. He had also been named Africa’s Best Referee in 2025.
The 34-year-old official recently saw his dream of refereeing at the 2026 FIFA World Cup come to an unexpected end after the United States denied him entry into the country over suspicions of links to the militant group Al-Shabaab.
UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin praised Artan’s rapid rise and thanked CAF President Dr. Patrice Motsepe for supporting the initiative.
“Omar Artan is a talented young referee with significant experience who has demonstrated that he belongs at the highest level of African football. Football is also about bringing people together, which is why UEFA wanted to recognize him in the way he deserves,” Čeferin said.
For his part, Dr. Motsepe said Artan had brought pride to Somalia and to the entire African continent. He noted that Artan’s recognition as Africa’s top referee in 2025 had earned him a place among the officials selected for the World Cup, even though circumstances ultimately prevented him from participating.
The 2026 UEFA Super Cup is scheduled to take place on 12 August 2026 in Salzburg, Austria, featuring Paris Saint-Germain, winners of the UEFA Champions League, against Aston Villa, who lifted the UEFA Europa League trophy.
Artan was recently given a hero’s welcome in Somalia, where he was received by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and awarded $50,000 in recognition of his achievements and contribution to African football officiating.
