Khamis Al-Marri will officiate the VAR match between the USA and Paraguay

Qatari refereeing has made an early appearance at the 2026 World Cup finals, with FIFA selecting international referee Khamis Al-Marri to work as part of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) team for the opening match between the United States and Paraguay. The FIFA Referees Committee assigned the match to Dutch referee Danny Makkelie, with Al-Marri serving as one of the VAR team members responsible for reviewing key refereeing decisions during the game. This selection confirms the growing confidence in Qatari refereeing capabilities and reflects Al-Marri's remarkable development in recent years, marked by successful participation in continental and international tournaments. The Qatari referee has proven his worth at numerous major events, securing his place among the referees FIFA relies on for high-profile matches, demonstrating his readiness and experience. This appearance in the opening match of the 2026 World Cup is a significant milestone in Al-Marri's career and further evidence of Qatar's continued active presence in international refereeing at the global level.