UAE referee Omar Al Ali appointed for Egypt–New Zealand World Cup clash

The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) has appointed Emirati referee Omar Al Ali as the match referee, with Mohammed Ahmed Yousuf serving as assistant referee, for the Group G match between Egypt and New Zealand at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Monday, June 22.

The match will be the first World Cup fixture officiated by the Emirati refereeing team selected by FIFA for the tournament. Video Assistant Referee (VAR) official Mohammed Obaid Khadem has already been involved in several matches from the VAR room.

The appointment of an Emirati officiating team highlights FIFA's confidence in UAE refereeing, which has earned recognition on the global stage.

Match timing

The match will kick off at 5:00am UAE time and 4:00am Cairo time on Monday, June 22. Both teams will be aiming to secure their first victory of the tournament after drawing their opening Group G matches.

Officiating team

Alongside Al Ali, fellow Emirati Mohammed Ahmed Yousuf will serve as first assistant referee, while Taleb Al Marri of Qatar will be the second assistant referee. Peru's Kevin Ortega has been appointed fourth official.

Reserve official

Peruvian official Michael Orué has been named reserve assistant referee, completing the officiating team for the highly anticipated clash between Egypt and New Zealand.

Last week, former UAE international referee Mohammed Abdullah will continue his presence on football’s biggest stage after being selected as an instructor for referees at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, marking his third consecutive World Cup involvement and reinforcing the global confidence in Emirati officiating.

Abdullah is the only Arab official chosen for this prestigious role, highlighting the trust placed by FIFA in his expertise, experience, and contribution to the development of international refereeing standards. His appointment is also a significant recognition of the progress and professionalism of UAE football officiating on the world stage.

The former referee previously officiated matches as a field referee during the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia and the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, earning praise for his performances at the highest level of the game. Having successfully represented the UAE in two consecutive tournaments, Abdullah now returns to the World Cup in a new capacity, helping prepare and guide match officials ahead of the tournament.