Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan is writing a new chapter in the history of Somali and African football after being appointed to referee the 2026 UEFA Super Cup, between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa.
The 34-year-old Somali referee will become the first non-European to officiate the UEFA Super Cup, with his appointment reflecting the progress made by African referees and the growing relationship between UEFA and CAF.
Artan has made several historic strides in the past 18 months. He became the first Somali to referee the CAF Champions League final and was later named African Men’s Referee of the Year in 2025, before being selected to referee the 2026 World Cup.
A journey that began in Somalia
Artan’s story began with small-town matches, before moving on to school games and the Somali league.
He said he faced difficult circumstances as a child, especially after the death of his father and the separation from his mother, but these circumstances did not prevent him from following his dream.
In 2018, he joined the FIFA list of international referees, while in 2024 he became the first Somali referee to referee the Africa Cup of Nations.
Artan said that his appointment for the UEFA Super Cup was a great joy for him and his family, noting the great support he received from Somalis living in Europe and Austria.
He said that this match will be his first match in Europe, noting that he is preparing specifically for the match, including studying the style of play, tactics and behavior of both teams.
His message to young people who want to become referees was to never give up on their dreams, and to learn something new every day and improve their skills.
“Don’t stop dreaming,” he urged.
The match will be assisted by Liban Abdoulrazack Ahmed from Djibouti and Stephen Eleazar Onyango Yiembe from Kenya, while the fourth official is Rade Obrenovič from Slovenia. The VAR has been appointed by Marco Di Bello from Italy, while the assistant VAR is Guillermo Cuadra Fernandez from Spain.
The 2026 UEFA Super Cup will be between Paris Saint-Germain, the winners of the Champions League, and Aston Villa, the winners of the Europa League, and will be played in Salzburg.
