FIFA follows the training of the UAE World Cup refereeing crew with a “smart watch”

The Emirati refereeing crew, which will participate in managing the 2026 World Cup matches, led by international referee Omar Al Ali, began its preparation early since the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) officially announced its selection as one of the World Cup referees’ crews, through training according to a specific program.

The training began at the Football Association headquarters in Dubai, with the follow-up of the Football Association, the Referees Committee and the fitness coach, and under the supervision of the FIFA Referees Committee.

A source told Emirates Today: “The preparations of the Emirati arbitration team include technical training and physical fitness exercises, in addition to training in the gym, as well as reviewing some arbitration cases via video, according to a schedule prepared by the International Federation of Association Football, using a sports smart watch and a GPS device.”

He added, “Through a special program and application on the phone, all physical and technical details of the arbitration crew are monitored, including monitoring of arbitration cases, physical condition, type of training, in addition to heart rate, and other details related to the arbitration crew.”

The Emirati refereeing team’s preparations come before heading to the United States, at the end of this month, to participate in managing the World Cup, which is considered the largest in the history of football with the participation of 48 teams for the first time.

The Emirati refereeing crew also includes the international assistant referee, Mohammed Ahmed Yousef, and the video referee, Mohammed Obaid Khadem. The International Federation’s referees’ committee prepared a special program in America that extends for 10 days, to prepare the referees participating in managing the tournament matches, and includes technical training and physical fitness tests, to ensure their physical, technical and psychological readiness for this global event.

It is noteworthy that the Emirati refereeing team, led by Omar Al Ali, participated during the recent period in managing the matches of local competitions, especially the professional league, and recently participated in managing the AFC Champions League matches for the elite.

For his part, Mohammed Obaid Khadem participated as a video referee in the “AFC Champions League 2” final between Al-Nassr and Gamba Osaka, a participation that is considered one of the most prominent stations in his career before the expected appearance in the World Cup.

The Emirati refereeing crew participating in the upcoming World Cup is receiving great attention from the UAE Football Association and the Referees Committee, with the aim of presenting an honorable image for Emirati refereeing in this event, especially since it is the eighth time that Emirati refereeing has been present in the World Cup.

The Emirati arbitration team is scheduled to leave for the United States at the end of this month, in preparation for participation in the special program.

According to the official website of the Asian Football Confederation, Omar Al Ali received his first call-up to the World Cup, and is considered one of the prominent referees on the continental scene, and a graduate of the Asian Football Confederation’s Future Project, where he officiated the quarter-final confrontation between Spain and Germany in the 2023 U-17 World Cup.