Jalal Jaid Becomes Third Moroccan Referee in World Cup History

Moroccan international referee Jalal Jaid is set to etch his name into a special list in the history of national refereeing, following his selection among the field referees for the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals. This move marks the return of Moroccan officiating to lead World Cup matches on the pitch.

Jalal Jaid will thus become the third Moroccan referee to officiate World Cup matches as a center referee. He follows Said Belqola, who famously refereed the 1998 final in France, and Mohamed El Kazzaz, who participated in the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan.

This appointment ends a more than two-decade absence of a Moroccan field referee at the world's biggest football event. Moroccan representation at the 2022 edition was limited to VAR officials.

Jaid's selection reflects his upward trajectory in recent years at both continental and international levels. This progression allowed him to earn the trust of the FIFA Referees Committee, which employs precise criteria for selecting World Cup referees, primarily based on performance, consistency, and physical and technical readiness.

Observers anticipate that this participation will provide a new impetus for Moroccan refereeing, especially amidst aspirations to restore a strong presence for national officials in major tournaments and to regain the luster that shone in previous editions.