Omar Artan, the referee denied entry into the USA for the 2026 World Cup, will officiate the UEFA Super Cup between PSG and Aston Villa

Omar Artan, a referee from Somalia, was denied entry on Saturday by American authorities into the United States, where he was to officiate at the 2026 World Cup. Following this incident, UEFA announced that Artan will referee the UEFA Super Cup match between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa on August 12.

UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin emphasized the importance of respect for Omar and his remarkable refereeing skills. The denial of entry into the USA generated a strong reaction in Somalia, with the Somali government calling the incident 'deplorable' and announcing that it would seek explanations from Washington and FIFA. Omar Artan, named referee of the year 2025 by the African Football Confederation, was to become the first Somali to referee a match at the World Cup.