Riyadh, April 9, 2026, SPA — FIFA has selected the Saudi refereeing crew, comprising referee Khalid Al-Turais, assistant referee Mohammed Al-Abakry, and VAR official Abdullah Al-Shehri, to officiate matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 18.
The selection follows the crew’s distinguished performances in various regional, continental, and international refereeing assignments, most notably their successful participation in the FIFA U-20 World Cup held last year in Chile.
Saudi Arabian Football Federation President Yasser Almisehal congratulated the selected officials, wishing them success at the World Cup and expressing hope that they would represent Saudi refereeing with distinction at this global football event.
Almisehal affirmed that FIFA’s selection of a Saudi refereeing crew reflects the continued confidence the international federation places in Saudi officials, in recognition of their performances that have been widely praised in recent times.