Somali referee Omar Artan has opened up on the pains of missing out on World Cup duties after being denied access to travel to the United States for the 2026 FIFA World Cup
Artan, who was set to make history as the first Somali referee to officiate at the world cup, is now in Salzburg, Austria, preparing to take charge of Wednesday’s UEFA Super Cup between UEFA Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain and UEFA Europa League winners Aston Villa.
The 34-year old was selected as part of the refereeing team for the 2026 World Cup but was unable to enter the United States, ending his hopes of officiating at the tournament despite years of preparation and achievement.
Speaking to UEFA, Artan described the experience as a particularly difficult period in his career and expressed his appreciation for the support he received from people around the world.
According to UEFA Artan said ” “It was a very tough period.”
According to him the disappointment was made more difficult by the years of work that had gone into reaching the World Cup, but added that the encouragement he received helped him cope with the setback.
Though he could not officiate at the mundial, another door has opened for Artan to showcase his abilities at another prestigious platform to make football history.
His appointment for the UEFA Super Cup makes him the first referee from outside Europe to officiate the prestigious fixture, under a cooperation agreement between European football’s governing body UEFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
The appointment represents another landmark in a rapidly developing international career.
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.
His selection for the Super Cup will also see him lead an African officiating team in a major European fixture. He will be assisted by Djibouti’s Liban Abdoulrazack Ahmed and Kenya’s Stephen Eleazar Onyango Yiembe.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe welcomed the appointment, describing it as an important moment for Artan and African referees and highlighting football’s ability to connect people across borders.
Artan’s journey to the top level of international refereeing began with local matches in Somalia before he was added to the FIFA international referees list in 2018. In 2024, he became the first Somali official to referee at the Africa Cup of Nations.
His latest assignment provides a significant response to the disappointment of missing the World Cup and offers another opportunity to showcase African refereeing on the global stage.
Artan also hopes his journey will inspire other referees to remain committed to their ambitions despite setbacks.
He said “I believe that if I can succeed, anyone can. Don’t ever stop dreaming” .
Artan is now focused on Wednesday’s showdown at the Red Bull Arena, where Paris Saint-Germain will meet Aston Villa.
For Artan, the match will be his first appearance in a European fixture and another historic milestone in a career that continues to break new ground for Somali and African football.
