Four Qatari match officials were selected for the 2026 World Cup, alongside four referees chosen for AFC Champions League finals, highlighting Qatar’s growing officiating profile.
Four Qatari match officials have been selected for the FIFA World Cup 2026, in a further boost to the country’s growing presence in global football officiating.
Abdulrahman Al Jassim will serve as a referee, Saoud Al Maqaleh and Taleb Al Marri as assistant referees, and Khamis Al-Marri as a video match official.
The announcement comes as four Qatari referees were also selected by the Asian Football Confederation to officiate the final stages of the AFC Champions League Elite, set to take place in Jeddah from 16 to 25 April.
Al Jassim and Salman Falahi will serve as referees in the continental competition, while Ramzan Al Nuaimi and Taleb Al Marri have been named assistant referees, highlighting continued confidence in Qatari officiating at the Asian level.
The selections coincide with the ninth meeting of the Referees Committee of the Qatar Football Association, held on Thursday, to review performance and discuss plans for the remainder of the season and beyond.
During the meeting, the committee assessed recent work, identifying key strengths and challenges to further enhance refereeing standards, and reviewed upcoming activities and programmes through to the end of the current sporting season.
Preparations for the next season were also discussed, including scheduling referees’ annual leave, setting the date for the resumption of activities, and organising the annual pre-season training camp aimed at improving physical and technical readiness.
The continued presence of Qatari officials at both global and continental levels reflects their growing reputation and role in developing refereeing standards across international football.
source/content: dohanews.co (headline edited)
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