Jalal Jaid Sole Moroccan Representative at FIFA's African Referees Camp for 2026 World Cup

FIFA's Referees Committee is preparing to organize a special preparatory camp for African referees, scheduled from February 23 to 27, 2026, in Doha, the Qatari capital.

This camp precedes the announcement of the final list of officials who will officiate matches at the 2026 World Cup, set to be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

The camp is part of the final selection phase for prospective referees, as FIFA has announced a shortlist featuring the continent's most prominent officials, with the aim of selecting the group that will officially participate in the global event.

Moroccan referee Jalal Jaid's name stood out on the African list. He is the sole representative from Morocco among the candidates for the World Cup finals, continuing his presence among the continental elite after his distinguished performance at the Youth World Cup.

Conversely, the list excluded several referees who had participated in previous FIFA camps, thus removing them from contention for the World Cup. Notably among them was Libyan referee Moataz Shalmani, who failed the CAF physical fitness test.