SALZBURG, Austria- Somali referee Omar Artan is set to make history as the first African official to referee the UEFA Super Cup when Paris Saint-Germain face Aston Villa at the Red Bull Arena on Wednesday, marking a remarkable turnaround after he missed the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The 34-year-old had been selected to officiate at the World Cup but was unable to travel to the United States, preventing him from becoming the first Somali referee to take charge at the tournament.
The setback came after years of preparation and represented a major disappointment for Artan, who has since turned the difficult experience into another milestone in his international refereeing career.
Speaking to UEFA ahead of the Super Cup, Artan described the period following his World Cup disappointment as difficult but said support from people around the world helped him cope.
“It was a very tough period,” Artan said.
He acknowledged that missing the World Cup was particularly painful because of the years of work that had gone into earning selection, but said the experience had strengthened his determination to continue pursuing his ambitions.
Artan will now become the first referee from outside Europe to take charge of the UEFA Super Cup, following cooperation between European football governing body UEFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
His appointment represents another breakthrough in a career that has steadily elevated Somali refereeing onto the international stage.
Over the past year, Artan became the first Somali referee to officiate a CAF Champions League final and was subsequently named the CAF Men’s Referee of the Year for 2025.
He also became the first Somali official to referee at the Africa Cup of Nations when he took charge of a match at the 2024 tournament.
Artan’s Super Cup assignment will also showcase African officiating, with Djibouti’s Liban Abdoulrazack Ahmed and Kenya’s Stephen Eleazar Onyango Yiembe serving as his assistant referees.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe welcomed the appointment, describing it as an important moment for Artan and African referees and highlighting football’s ability to bring people together.
Artan’s journey began with local matches in Somalia before he was added to FIFA’s international referee list in 2018.
His appointment in Salzburg therefore represents more than a personal achievement. It is also a significant moment for Somali football and African match officials seeking greater opportunities on the global stage.
The referee said his experience should encourage other officials to remain committed to their ambitions despite setbacks.
“I believe that if I can succeed, anyone can. Don’t ever stop dreaming,” he said.
Artan will now focus on Wednesday’s clash between Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain and Europa League winners Aston Villa, with the match offering him an opportunity to write another chapter in African football history.
