The Emirati refereeing crew returns to the country after participating in the 2026 World Cup

On Tuesday, the Emirati refereeing team, led by international referee Omar Al Ali, returned to the country after completing its participation in the 2026 World Cup, which was hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

The Emirati crew participated in officiating 10 matches during the tournament, the most notable of which was leading the match between Egypt and New Zealand in the group stage, where it presented a distinguished level of refereeing that won praise from the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) on its website.

The Emirati crew included assistant referee Mohammed Ahmed Yousef, along with video referee Mohammed Obaid Khadem.

This is the eighth participation of Emirati arbitration in the World Cup finals, after recording its presence in seven previous editions, a confirmation of the position that Emirati arbitration has now enjoyed on the international arena.

The selection of the Emirati crew to participate in the World Cup came after the distinguished levels it presented during the last period in managing many local, continental and international matches and tournaments, which strengthened the confidence of the International Federation in its capabilities and efficiency.