Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa will contest the UEFA Super Cup in Salzburg on Wednesday, with Somali official Omar Artan set to become the first non-European referee to oversee the match. UEFA says the game between the reigning Champions League and Europa League winners starts at 21:00 CET at Stadion Salzburg, opening the European club season with a trophy at stake.
Artan's appointment gives the final a significance beyond the two teams. AP News and El País reported that the United States barred him from entering the country before the 2026 World Cup because of vetting concerns, preventing him from officiating at that tournament. US officials alleged links to terrorist organisations but publicly supplied no proof, according to AP. UEFA subsequently selected the official judged Africa's best referee last season for its showpiece.
On the field, defending champion PSG is seeking to become only the second club in the modern era to retain the Super Cup, after Real Madrid did so in 2016 and 2017. UEFA records show Paris recovered from two goals down against Tottenham last year before winning on penalties. Aston Villa, which beat Freiburg 3-0 in the Europa League final, is pursuing its second Super Cup after defeating Barcelona over two legs in 1982.
Both squads enter the final after a short turnaround from the World Cup. AP reported that Ousmane Dembélé, Désiré Doué, Bradley Barcola and Fabián Ruiz only returned to PSG training on Monday. Villa coach Unai Emery confirmed that Emiliano Martínez, Ollie Watkins and Ezri Konsa are unavailable after receiving four weeks of rest, while captain John McGinn and Alejandro Garnacho return to the squad.
Emery described PSG as the favourite and said the match offers Villa another opportunity to convert its recent growth into a trophy, according to Cadena SER. Luis Enrique acknowledged that some Paris players have had little preparation but said his squad remains strongly motivated. The Spanish coaches meet again after PSG narrowly eliminated Villa in the Champions League quarter-finals during the previous campaign.
UEFA says a level score after 90 minutes will lead directly to a penalty shootout, with no extra time. The organisation also notes that Champions League holders have won 30 of the first 50 editions. Artan's role, following his World Cup exclusion, ensures the 51st final will also mark an officiating milestone regardless of which club lifts the trophy in Austria.
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