Denied Entry to the US Before the World Cup, Somali Referee Receives Historic UEFA Appointment
Omar Artan, barred from entering the US for the World Cup, has been appointed by UEFA to referee the Super Cup between PSG and Aston Villa in August.
Omar Artan was set to become the first Somali referee to officiate at a World Cup — but he was turned away at the American border before ever setting foot on a pitch. Now, UEFA has responded to the episode with a high-profile appointment: the referee will take charge of the UEFA Super Cup between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa, scheduled for 12 August in Salzburg.
According to the BBC, Artan was denied entry into the United States by border agents in Miami, despite holding a diplomatic passport and a valid entry visa. A US government official stated that the refusal was based on an alleged association with terrorism suspects. The decision to appoint him to the Super Cup was made by UEFA following talks with the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
The referee, named CAF's best official in 2025 and on FIFA's international list since 2018, had built strong credentials ahead of the World Cup. By announcing him for the match between the Champions League winner and the Europa League winner, UEFA made clear that it views the episode as a matter that extends well beyond sport.
The case casts a shadow over the logistics and access policies surrounding the 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. If FIFA-accredited referees face immigration barriers, the question of how other tournament participants — players, coaching staffs, and supporters — will be treated at the border becomes increasingly relevant as the tournament draws closer.
The next chapter in this story will be the Super Cup itself in August, where Artan will have the chance to show on the pitch what was denied to him in the United States.