4 Qatari referees selected to officiate 2026 World Cup finals

FIFA World Cup 2026

FIFA has released the list of referees who have been appointed to officiate matches at next summer's 2026 World Cup finals, which will be hosted in the United States, Canada, and Mexico; with an expanded 48-team tournament for – for only the first time in history.

Qatar's presence was remarkable on this list, given the choice of a Qatari arbitration team that affirms international confidence in specializations in the arbitration field and their ability to manage major global tournaments effectively and efficiently.

The Qatari match officials are Abdulrahman Al Jassim (on-field referee), Saud Ahmed and Taleb Salem Al Marri (assistant referees), and Khamis Al Marri as the Video Assistant Referee (VAR).

This choice comes as a result of the lofty status reached by Qatari referees in the international scene, especially after their distinguished presence in continental and global grounds during recent years helped refine skills for many of them and cemented their image as an annual fixture at major events.