Capitals, June 16, 2026 (SANA) Arab referees, assistant referees and video match officials are serving in officiating roles at the FIFA World Cup 2026, which is being staged across North America with 48 teams participating.
The tournament, running from June 11 to July 19, is being held across 16 cities in Canada, Mexico and the United States, marking the first time the competition has been jointly hosted by three countries. The final is scheduled to take place in the New York/New Jersey area.
FIFA confirmed a total of 52 referees, 88 assistant referees and 30 video assistant referees for the tournament, following its announcement on April 9, 2026. The 170 officials represent 50 countries.
Arab officials account for 23 appointments, including nine referees, nine assistant referees and five video assistant referees (VAR), drawn from Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, Mauritania, Somalia, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Jordan.
Among the match referees, Morocco’s Jalal Jayed is officiating at his first World Cup. Moroccan media reported he is the first Moroccan central referee at the tournament since 2002. Jayed, a FIFA-listed referee since 2019, has officiated in Morocco’s domestic league, Africa Cup of Nations matches and FIFA youth tournaments.
Mauritania’s Dahane Beida, a FIFA referee since 2018, is also among active match officials, with previous experience at the Africa Cup of Nations, Olympic football tournaments and FIFA Club World Cup fixtures.
Other Arab referees include Algeria’s Mustapha Ghorbal, Jordan’s Adham Makhadmeh, Qatar’s Abdulrahman Al-Jassim, Saudi Arabia’s Khalid Al-Turais, Egypt’s Amin Mohamed Omar and the United Arab Emirates’ Omar Al Ali.
Jordan’s officiating team also includes assistant referees Ahmad Al-Roalle and Mohammad Al-Kalaf.
Assistant referees at the tournament further include Egypt’s Ahmed Hossam Eldin Taha and Mahmoud Abouregal, Morocco’s Mostafa Akarkad and Zakaria Brinsi, Algeria’s Abbes Akram Zerhouni and Mokrane Gourari, Saudi Arabia’s Mohammed Maki Al-Abakry, Qatar’s Saud Ahmed Al-Maqaleh and Taleb Salem Al-Marri, and the United Arab Emirates’ Sultan Mohamed Saleh Yousif Al-Hammadi.
Video assistant referee duties include Egypt’s Mahmoud Mohamed Ashour, Morocco’s Hamza El-Fariq and Saudi Arabia’s Abdullah Al-Shehri.
Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, who had been appointed among FIFA match officials for the tournament, was withdrawn after being denied entry to the United States despite holding a valid visa. He travelled for mandatory pre-tournament preparations but was refused entry by U.S. authorities following an extended immigration interview, according to reports. Omar Abdulkadir Artan later returned to Somalia, where he was received by officials and supporters.
The 2026 tournament is the first World Cup to feature 48 teams, marking the largest expansion in FIFA history.
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