Qatari arbitration continued its distinguished presence on the global scene, after the Qatari arbitration team, led by international referee Abdul Rahman Al-Jassem, and with the assistance of Saud Ahmed and Talib Salem Al-Marri, succeeded in officiating the match between Portugal and the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the first round of the Eleventh Group competitions in the 2026 World Cup, which was held at the American stadium in Houston.
The Qatari crew presented an outstanding arbitration performance that won praise, as it managed the match with confidence and ability, and succeeded in dealing with the various events of the match and the important arbitration decisions, reaffirming the prestigious position that Qatari arbitration has reached at the international level. The Qatari presence in the match was also completed with the presence of Khamis Al Marri among the video technology (VAR) crew, in a new confirmation of the great confidence that the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) places in the Qatari refereeing competencies.
Assigning the Qatari crew to manage this World Cup match is an extension of a series of successful participations by Qatari referees in continental and international tournaments over the past years, which reflects the great development witnessed by the arbitration system in Qatar and its ability to appear in its best light in the largest international football forums.
