The Leopards now know who will referee their World Cup 2026 debut. FIFA has officially announced the appointment of Abdulrahman Al Jassim, a Qatari international referee, for the DR Congo vs Portugal match.

Who is the referee?

Abdulrahman Al Jassim is a Qatari international referee recognized for his experience in major continental and global competitions. He will be assisted by his compatriots Taleb Al Marri and Saoud Almaqaleh.

African presence in the refereeing team

The African continent will also be represented in the official team. South Africans Abongile Tom and Zakhele Siwela have been appointed as fourth and fifth officials, respectively.

VAR still pending

At this stage, FIFA has not yet announced the identity of the officials who will be in charge of video assistance to the referee (VAR). This announcement is expected to be made in the coming hours before the match kicks off.

The pressure is mounting around the Democratic Republic of Congo's debut against Portugal at the 2026 World Cup. The Leopards' supporters are eagerly awaiting this historic encounter against one of Europe's greatest football nations.