Proud to represent the UAE in the 2026 World Cup.. “An exceptional experience.”

The international assistant football referee, Mohammed Ahmed Yousef, who participated in the UAE refereeing team in the 2026 World Cup, confirmed that he is proud to represent the UAE in the largest football event in the world, along with international referees Omar Al Ali and Mohammed Obaid, describing participation as an exceptional experience.

He told «Emirates Today»: “I did not find any difficulty, but managing the matches was a sporting pleasure for us, and the current version of the World Cup is not the end station, but rather the beginning of a new phase and a starting point towards greater entitlements, most notably the 2030 World Cup, which represents the next goal and the greatest ambition, to achieve the fourth consecutive participation in the World Cup.”

He explained: “We were all honored to represent the country, which is an honor that carries with it a great responsibility, and I hope that we have succeeded in presenting the image that befits the name of our country, and the tournament was a rich station at all levels, whether technical, mental or physical, especially since it witnessed the practical application of the latest amendments to the law of the game, in addition to relying on the latest arbitration techniques, which added a new dimension to the referee’s experience in managing matches.”

He added: “For me, this was the third consecutive participation in the World Cup Finals, after Russia 2018, Qatar 2022, and the current edition in the United States 2026. This continued presence among the world’s elite referees is not only a personal achievement, but rather reflects the position that UAE arbitration has reached, and the great confidence it enjoys on the international arena.”

He continued: “This success did not come out of nowhere, but rather is the result of a clear vision and long-term strategy adopted by the Football Association, whether in previous or current administrations, by investing in the human element and creating successive generations of referees capable of representing the country in major world championships.”

Mohamed Ahmed participated during the World Cup in managing the matches of Egypt against New Zealand, America against Türkiye, and South Africa against Canada in the round of 32.

He considered that “participation in the World Cup is not limited to managing matches only, but rather begins long before the starting whistle, as the Emirati refereeing crew, like the rest of the tournament referees, underwent an intensive professional program, which included more than 30 days of technical analysis of the tournament matches, in addition to 40 days of daily physical preparation, as well as a careful study of the playing styles of all participating teams, and analysis of their offensive and defensive systems, to ensure the highest levels of readiness before each match.”

He explained: “The daily presence among the best referees in the world represents an integrated school for exchanging experiences and cultures. In such tournaments, you not only learn how to apply the law, but you learn the art of managing pressure, the ability to read the match, understand the behavior of the players, and make the right decision at the right moment, which are things that make the difference between good refereeing and elite refereeing. The great technical development that the tournament witnessed, from semi-automated offside technology, goal line technology, and precise sensors inside the ball, enhanced the accuracy of decisions, but at the same time it did not diminish the importance of the referee’s personality and his ability to “Leadership, communication, and managing the game with confidence and calm.”

Mohammed Ahmed stressed that he believes that the real value of this participation lies in transferring this expertise to the UAE arbitration system, and benefiting from it in developing local arbitration, which will reflect positively on the level of our local competitions, and enhance the UAE’s presence in international forums in the coming years.

Mohamed Ahmed revealed that the many joint refereeing experiences between him and the arena referee Omar Al Ali facilitated their mission in the World Cup, pointing out that they had previously worked together in the recent Asian Cup in Qatar, as well as in the AFC Cup final and the AFC Champions League over a period of three years, describing Omar Al Ali as “the referee of the future” in Emirati football, due to his ambition and passion for refereeing.

Mohamed Ahmed pointed out that the experiences accumulated through his previous participation in the 2018 and 2022 World Cups helped him a lot in the current edition.

He added: “The UAE League is one of the strongest and most organized leagues on the Asian continent, and the challenges and complex refereeing transformations it imposes directly contribute to preparing the Emirati referee and qualifying him to manage major international matches with confidence and competence, which we clearly saw in the World Cup, where the experiences we gained locally were among the most important factors for success on the global stage.”

Muhammad Ahmed Youssef:

. Being among the elite of world rulers reflects the position reached by UAE arbitration.

. Participation in the World Cup is not limited to managing matches, but begins long before the starting whistle.

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