Somali referee Omar Artan has arrived in Salzburg, Austria, ahead of the UEFA Super Cup between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa on Wednesday, August 12, 2026.

Artan received a warm welcome upon his arrival, with fans taking the opportunity to pose for photographs with the highly-rated official ahead of his historic assignment.

The 34-year-old is set to become the first non-European referee to officiate the UEFA Super Cup, marking another major milestone in his career. UEFA appointed him for the fixture after he was unable to participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup because he was denied entry into the United States.

Artan had been selected among FIFA's World Cup referees and was expected to become the first Somali official to referee at the tournament.

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However, he was refused entry at Miami International Airport and subsequently removed from the World Cup officials' list. US authorities cited vetting concerns for the decision.

His setback was followed by a remarkable opportunity from UEFA, which described the appointment as a way of recognising his quality and supporting cooperation between European and African football.

Artan was named CAF Men's Referee of the Year in 2025 and has officiated at the highest level of African club football, including the 2025/26 CAF Champions League final.

Watch the video below:

#SuperCup referee Omar Artan has touched down in Salzburg 🇸🇴🛬🇦🇹 pic.twitter.com/t4mwbPwFEZ

— UEFA (@UEFA) August 10, 2026