Qatari referee appointed to FIFA World Cup 2026 final officiating team

Doha: Qatari referee Khamis Al Marri will be part of the officiating team for Sunday's FIFA World Cup final between Argentina and Spain, after being appointed as support video assistant referee (support VAR) for the showpiece at New York New Jersey Stadium.

Al Marri will work alongside Germany's Bastian Dankert, who has been named the video assistant referee, and Colombian Nicolás Gallo, who will serve as assistant VAR, giving Qatar representation in one of football's biggest occasions.

On the field, Slovenian Slavko Vincic will referee the World Cup final, becoming the first official from Slovenia to take charge of the tournament's biggest match. wlop.pl

The 46-year-old, who has previously officiated the UEFA Champions League final and UEFA EURO 2024 semi-final between France and Spain, said the appointment was an "incredible honour" and a dream come true.

Vincic will be assisted by fellow Slovenians Tomaz Klančnik and Andraz Kovacic, while Jordan's Adham Makhadmeh has been named fourth official and compatriot Mohammad Al-Kalaf reserve assistant referee.

FIFA said the appointments were based primarily on performances throughout the tournament, with the officials selected to oversee the final after consistently impressive displays across the competition.

Doha, Qatar: Qatar’s second successive FIFA World Cup group-stage exit may have brought a disappointing end to their campaign in North America, but head coach Julen Lopetegui believes the tournament has laid another important foundation for the future of Qatari football.

Al Annabi bowed out after a 3-1 defeat to Bosnia-Herzegovina in a must-win Group B clash in Seattle on Wednesday, finishing bottom of the group with one point. A 1-1 draw against group winners Switzerland earned Qatar their first-ever World Cup point, while a heavy 6-0 loss to co-hosts Canada exposed the challenges facing a side competing on football’s biggest stage.

Yet Lopetegui insisted Qatar’s World Cup journey should be judged on a broader scale, particularly after qualifying for the tournament through the qualifiers for the first time. Their previous appearance came as hosts of the 2022 World Cup.

“The greatest achievement was accomplished even before the tournament began, when the Qatari national team qualified for the World Cup for the first time in its history through the qualifiers,” the Spaniard said.

“Simply being among the best teams in the world is an achievement in itself, especially since many big teams were unable to reach the finals, while the Qatari team succeeded in securing its place with merit and deservingness.”

While disappointed with the result against Bosnia-Herzegovina, Lopetegui backed his players and highlighted the character they showed after falling two goals behind.

“We didn’t start the match ideally. We conceded two goals due to the high quality of the Bosnian wingers, who possess extensive experience gained from playing in major European leagues. We didn’t handle some situations well, and we made mistakes that led to us falling behind,” he said.

“We showed a very good reaction in the last 15 minutes of the first half, controlling possession and threatening the opponent’s goal until we managed to reduce the deficit after a well-coordinated tactical move.

“We continued to dominate in the second half, controlling the game and creating numerous chances that could have brought the match back to square one.”

More importantly for the coach, the tournament reinforced his belief that Qatar are moving in the right direction despite another early exit.

“The big teams did not reach where they are today overnight, but rather went through different stages of development and gaining experience, and this is the same thing that Qatari football is currently experiencing at the global level,” Lopetegui said.

“The players proved during the tournament their ability to compete and play with a strong character against teams with a greater history and experience, which gives everyone confidence in the future and the team’s ability to achieve more accomplishments in the coming years.”

He added that the team’s biggest takeaway from the tournament was the belief that sustained progress remains possible.

“The most important message the team took away from this participation is that big dreams can be achieved through work, determination and proper planning.”

“Never before had we won a point at a World Cup. And never before had we had a match where we competed on equal terms with an opponent and arguably deserved more. The most important thing now is for the young players in Qatar to learn from the experienced players in this squad. Unfortunately, many of those senior players are nearing the end of their careers and I do not know if this was their last match for the national team.”

“The younger generation must take their example and learn from their professionalism and behaviour. Hopefully, that will help Qatar have another opportunity like this in the future.”

Forward Ahmed Alaaeldin echoed that sentiment, describing the tournament as another valuable step in the development of a generation still gaining experience at the highest level.

“For us as players, the Qatar 2022 World Cup was a very important milestone in our careers. We learned a lot from that experience, not only on the field, but also in how to deal with the big atmosphere, the high pressures and the great responsibilities that such tournaments impose,” he said.

“Every tournament we participate in gives us something new. Experience doesn’t come in a day, but through continuous competition, exposure, and playing big matches. What we gain today will be an important asset for the coming years.”

Alaaeldin added representing Qatar at the World Cup remained a source of immense pride despite the disappointment of elimination.

“We are proud of what we experienced in this tournament, and even more proud that we represented Qatar in the biggest sporting event in the world. What has been achieved is not the end of the road, but a new step in the journey of Qatari football towards the future and always the best.”

Saudi Arabia’s state-backed ROSHN Group is seeking investors for the Aramco Stadium, one of the venues planned for the 2034 World Cup.

Three sources told Reuters that the Public Investment Fund-owned developer is exploring an investment deal to release capital for other projects under Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 programme.

ROSHN have appointed JPMorgan to oversee the equity fundraising process, two of the sources said. PIF and ROSHN have also begun testing investor interest in the stadium.

The 47,000-capacity stadium is under construction in Al Khobar and is expected to be completed by the end of 2026. It is scheduled to host its first match in January.

ROSHN own and developed the venue, while the state-owned oil company Saudi Aramco will operate it under a 25-year concession.

The proposed transaction could use a lease-and-leaseback structure similar to deals previously completed for Aramco’s pipeline assets.

Under that model, ROSHN would establish a company controlling the stadium’s leasehold and sell part of it to outside investors.

The investors would provide capital upfront and receive a share of Aramco’s long-term lease payments. ROSHN could then redirect the released funds towards its other developments.

The fundraising effort comes as Saudi Arabia seeks more private investment for the infrastructure required to host the FIFA World Cup.

The kingdom plans to build or renovate 15 stadiums across five cities, alongside 132 training grounds. The 2034 tournament will also be the first expanded 48-team World Cup staged by a single host country.

However, lower-than-expected oil revenues and heavy spending on large development projects have placed pressure on government finances.

Saudi Arabia seeks private capital and asset sales to address delays in Vision 2030 projects. Moreover, the search for Aramco Stadium investors follows reports of tighter spending across the Saudi Pro League.

KingFut reported this week that Saudi clubs were preparing for possible contractual disputes over player wages after substantial budget reductions.

Club officials are said to fear that previously agreed contracts could exceed their revised financial allocations, potentially leading players to pursue claims over unpaid salaries or breached agreements.

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