AMMAN — Jordanian international referee Adham Makhadmeh arrived in the capital, Amman, yesterday afternoon, accompanied by assistant referees Mohammad Al-Khalaf and Ahmad Al-Ruwaili, following a historic participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
اضافة اعلان
A large crowd of Jordanian fans was present at the reception, alongside members of the Jordan Football Association (JFA), colleagues, and families of the refereeing crew, welcoming Makhadmeh and his team to the rhythm of traditional chants and national songs.
Makhadmeh featured in the World Cup Final between Spain and Argentina last Sunday evening as the Fourth Official, while Jordanian referee Mohammad Al-Khalaf served as the Reserve Assistant Referee (Fifth Official), marking a new historic achievement for Jordanian refereeing.
Speaking to the media upon his arrival, Makhadmeh expressed his gratitude to the Jordanian fans who gathered at Queen Alia International Airport and to all who supported him. He also extended his thanks to the JFA and its President, Prince Ali, who maintained continuous communication with the team.
The 39-year-old Makhadmeh has established himself as one of the most prominent referees at the Arab and Asian levels in recent years. He has officiated numerous high-profile matches in World Cup qualifiers and continental championships, alongside his regular presence in domestic football, where he has led crucial matches and major derbies.
Makhadmeh initiated his 2026 World Cup campaign by officiating the group stage match between Spain and Cape Verde, followed by the clash between Belgium and New Zealand in the same stage. He then served as Fourth Official for the Morocco vs. Scotland match, before officiating the Round of 32 fixture between England and DR Congo, and subsequently the Round of 16 encounter between Belgium and the United States.
Makhadmeh, along with his assistant crew—comprising Mohammad Al-Khalaf and Ahmad Al-Ruwaili—demonstrated a standout performance throughout all assigned duties. He earned the highest rating among referees who officiated matches in the second and third rounds of the tournament, reinforcing the FIFA Referees Committee's confidence to assign him a role in the Final match.
Makhadmeh boasts an impressive record of international achievements, having officiated major continental and global fixtures over the years. These include the opening match of the 2019 AFC Asian Cup between the UAE and Bahrain, the opening match of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Football Tournament (held in 2021) between Spain and Egypt, matches at the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Poland, and the first leg of the 2017 AFC Champions League Final between Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal and Japan's Urawa Red Diamonds.
He also made notable appearances at the FIFA Arab Cup in Qatar and officiated the decisive World Cup 2026 Asian Play-off match between Saudi Arabia and Iraq, continuing to solidify his standing as one of the top Arab and Asian referees and adding a new milestone to his professional career and to Jordanian refereeing on the global stage.
