As the competition intensifies in the World Cup, where remaining teams fight for a spot in the tournament concluding on July 19, FIFA has announced the selection of referees for each crucial match. Specifically, an Emirati referee will participate in the quarter-final between England and Norway.
Clément Turpin from France has been appointed as the main referee, and Alejandro José Hernández Hernández from Spain will serve as the fourth official. The UAE Football Association reported on Saturday that Emirati referee Mohammed Obaid Hadim was named the reserve VAR for this game.
In addition to Hadim, Omar Al Ali and Mohammed Ahmed Yousif are part of the Emirati officiating team participating in the current World Cup. These three are highly qualified officials who have previously participated in major international football tournaments. Previously, FIFA selected Al Ali and Yousif to officiate the Egypt versus New Zealand group stage match, which ended with the North African team winning 3-1.
England will face Norway in Miami on Sunday. An exciting clash of elite forwards is expected, where Harry Kane will confront Erling Haaland. Both teams aim to reach the semi-finals, where they will play either the reigning champions Argentina or the unexpected contender Switzerland.
Harry Kane has once again become the hero of England, guiding the team through a tense Round of 16 match against Mexico at Estadio Azteca, which they won 3-2 despite a player sending-off. The Bayern Munich striker scored six goals, helping the 'Three Lions' advance to the quarter-finals. For his part, Haaland has shown excellent form since arriving in the United States, scoring seven goals that helped Norway advance further than ever before. Their journey, which included eliminating Brazil, was accompanied by joyful celebrations from fans, turning venues across the US into giant human Viking ships.
The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) has submitted an official complaint to FIFA against French referee François Létesse following controversial decisions made during the Egypt versus Argentina match in the Round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup.
The EFA demanded a formal investigation into Létesse and the entire officiating crew. The main reason for the protest was the failure to award a penalty kick to the Egyptian team shortly before Enzo Fernández scored Argentina's third goal. Furthermore, the EFA explicitly requested that Létesse be excluded from officiating any remaining matches of the tournament.
Following the EFA's appeal, French media outlets have begun analyzing how the governing football body will react to this protest. According to the French publication Foot Mercato, it is unlikely that FIFA will grant Egypt's request to suspend the referee.
Reports emphasize that the appointment of referees falls under the exclusive jurisdiction of the FIFA Referees Committee, and no country has the right to veto or block the selection of an official.
Foot Mercato explained that while Létesse's performance in the Egypt versus Argentina match will be thoroughly analyzed, any disciplinary action or future assignments will depend solely on FIFA's internal technical expertise, not on the pressure created by the EFA's protest. Predictions suggest that Létesse's further participation in the tournament may depend on his own country's success. If the French national team advances deep into the final stages of the World Cup playoffs, FIFA will likely still bench French referees to avoid a potential conflict of interest.
The coach of the Egyptian national team, Hossam Hassan, stated on Tuesday that he would no longer follow the World Cup, blaming his team's painful exit from the tournament following the match against Argentina on refereeing errors.
In the last Round of 16 match against reigning champion Argentina, the Egyptians were leading 2-0 with only 11 minutes left in the game, which presented a chance for one of the big surprises at the World Cup. However, they conceded three goals in the final minutes and were eliminated from the tournament.
The team was demoralized by the impressive comeback inspired by Lionel Messi, but Hassan insisted that his team played better. During the press conference, he announced: 'I am going home and will not watch any more matches of the tournament.'
Hassan expressed dissatisfaction with the course of the game, stating: 'What happened to us was unfair. We should have received a penalty, but the goal was disallowed, and I don't know why it was disallowed.'
Egypt's goal was scored by Mostafa Zico in the 62nd minute, but VAR review showed that there was a foul by the Egyptians in the build-up to the goal. Furthermore, they demanded a penalty at the end of the match after a push on Hamdy Fathi, which intensified their anger when Argentina scored the winning goal in the 92nd minute.
Hassan emphasized that even if the goals were the result of mistakes, 'the biggest mistake is not getting what you are entitled to from those who make decisions,' adding that his press conference consisted of many complaints. He noted that he hates defeats, especially those that seem unfair, and advised fans not to be upset because they wanted to bring them joy.
Nevertheless, the coach pointed out positive aspects: 'What pleased me was that my players followed the game plan in many instances and worked excellently.'
At the start of the game, Egypt demonstrated an unexpectedly attacking style, which differed from Hassan's usual tactics based on tight defense and seeking counter-attack opportunities. This approach helped them gain an early advantage, and the heroic performance of goalkeeper Mostafa Shoubair ensured the team maintained the lead until halftime.
Hassan also expressed satisfaction with the players' efforts, noting that most of them play in the Egyptian domestic league, unlike many players from other national teams who are based in Europe in professional settings. He added that despite having predominantly local players, apart from Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush, they were able to compete with any team.
