Moroccan referees on the World Cup roster

Moroccan arbitration recorded a remarkable presence among the list of referees chosen to officiate the 2026 World Cup final matches, which will be held next summer in the United States of America, Mexico and Canada.

The final list announced by FIFA revealed the presence of referee Jalal Gayed among the arena’s referees, along with his compatriots Zakaria Prinsi and Mustafa Akrakad as assistants, while Hamza Al-Farq was chosen among the video technology “VAR” referees.

The presence was not limited to Morocco only, but the list had a diverse Arab presence, as it included names from several countries, including: Qatari Abdul Rahman Al-Jassem, Saudi Khaled Al-Taris, Emirati Omar Abdullah Al Ali, Algerian Mustafa Gharbal, Egyptian Amin Muhammad, and Jordanian Adham Makhamda, along with assistant referees: Egyptian Mahmoud Abu Al-Rijal, Ahmed Hossam Taha, and Emirati Muhammad Al-Hammadi. The Saudi Muhammad Al-Abkari, the Qataris Saud Al-Maqaleh and Talib Al-Marri, and the Jordanian Ahmed Al-Rawala, in addition to the video technology referees, are: Qatari Khamis Al-Marri, Saudi Abdullah Al-Shehri, Egyptian Mahmoud Ashour, and Emirati Muhammad Obaid Khadem.

At the African level, the list recorded a remarkable presence of a number of referees who will represent the African continent, including: Moroccans Jalal Jaid, Zakaria Prinsi, Mustafa Akrkad, and Hamza Al-Farq, along with Algerian Mustafa Gharbal, Mauritanian Dahan Beida, Somali Omar Abdelkader Artan, and Gabonese Amir Acho and Pierre Acho, as well as a number of assistant referees, including: Cameroonian Noubio Elves, and Angolan. Gerson Santos, South African Zakhele Sewela, in addition to Tunisians Sadiq Salmi and Haitham Kirat, and Algerian Abbas Akram Zerhouni.

This Arab and African presence reflects the growing status of the referees of the two continents within the global arbitration system, in light of the confidence that FIFA has now placed in their competencies to manage matches of the highest level, during a football event that is expected to be among the strongest in the history of the World Cup.