Somali referee Omar Artan says he is proud to have been handed the opportunity to officiate the UEFA Super Cup after his hopes of taking part in the 2026 FIFA World Cup were cut short by his inability to enter the United States.

Artan, 34, was part of FIFA’s selected group of referees for the World Cup but was denied entry when he arrived at Miami International Airport shortly before the tournament. He was subsequently unable to take part in the competition.

The setback has since been followed by a major career opportunity, with UEFA appointing Artan to referee Wednesday’s Super Cup between Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain and Europa League winners Aston Villa in Salzburg, Austria.

The appointment is historic, as Artan will become the first referee from outside Europe to take charge of the UEFA Super Cup. His selection came through cooperation between UEFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

Artan has described the period surrounding his World Cup disappointment as difficult but said the support he received helped him move forward.

His reputation had already been established at the highest level of African football. He has been on FIFA’s international refereeing list since 2018 and was named CAF Men’s Referee of the Year in 2025. He also officiated the second leg of the 2025/26 CAF Champions League final.

UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin praised Artan as an experienced referee who had proved himself at the highest level of African football, saying the appointment demonstrated how football could bring people together.

Now, just weeks after missing out on the world’s biggest football tournament, Artan is preparing to stand at the centre of another prestigious occasion.

His appointment represents a remarkable turnaround for the Somali official and a significant milestone for African refereeing on the European stage.