Qatari referees continue to shine at the 2026 World Cup

The Qatari refereeing team, led by international referee Abdulrahman Al-Jassim, delivered an outstanding performance in managing the match between England and Panama, which took place as part of the third round of Group B matches in the 2026 FIFA World Cup currently being held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Al-Jassim officiated the match with great confidence, and he and his team successfully guided the game to a safe conclusion. Their performance was characterized by composure, discipline, and timely and decisive decision-making, along with excellent teamwork. This earned them widespread praise and reflected the advanced level that Qatari referees have reached on the international stage. The Qatari team included Taleb Salem as the first assistant referee and Saud Ahmed as the second assistant referee, while Swiss referee Sandro Scherer served as the fourth official, and his compatriot Stefan de Almeida as the reserve assistant referee. The match was held at the New York-New Jersey Stadium in the United States. This appearance is a continuation of the successes achieved by Qatari referees in major football tournaments. Abdulrahman Al-Jassim is one of the most prominent Asian referees and has been on FIFA's elite referees list since 2013. He has also officiated several matches in the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar, in addition to participating in other prominent continental and international tournaments. Assigning a match of this magnitude, the England-Panama clash, to a Qatari refereeing team underscores the confidence FIFA places in Qatari refereeing talent, following the outstanding performances Qatari referees have delivered in recent years, whether in the World Cup, the Asian Cup, or various continental and regional tournaments. The Qatari team's impressive performance at the 2022 World Cup will be another addition to Qatar's refereeing achievements and reaffirms the continued international confidence in Qatari referees and their ability to represent Qatari football in the best possible way at the world's biggest tournaments.