The name of Jordan will be present in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final match, which takes place Sunday evening in the United States, bringing together Argentina and Spain.
اضافة اعلان
Jordan is represented in this major global football event by referees Adham Makhadmeh and Mohammad Khalaf. Makhadmeh has been appointed as the fourth official, while Khalaf will serve as the fifth assistant referee (reserve) for the highly anticipated final.
The Jordanian refereeing crew, consisting of Adham Makhadmeh, Ahmad Al-Roalle, and Mohammad Khalaf, officiated four matches during the 2026 World Cup, marking a new milestone for Jordanian refereeing with this final match appearance.
The presence of Jordanian referees in the World Cup final adds to a historic tournament for Jordanian football, which also saw the unprecedented participation of the national team in the World Cup.
Argentina advanced to the final after defeating England in the semifinals, while Spain secured its spot by beating France.
The Fourth Official
The fourth official is a key member of the refereeing team, supporting the main referee in managing the match and handling organizational and administrative tasks from the sidelines to ensure the game runs smoothly.
Key duties of the fourth official include monitoring the technical area, ensuring that managers, substitutes, and technical staff adhere to regulations, and supervising substitutions to make sure players enter and exit the pitch according to approved procedures.
The fourth official also operates the electronic board to display player numbers during substitutions and announce the stoppage time determined by the main referee. Additionally, they check player equipment, manage match balls, and handle game-related logistics.
Using communication systems, the fourth official acts as a link between the main referee and the rest of the crew, reporting incidents or infractions that might occur out of the main referee's line of sight.
Other responsibilities include checking player lists, monitoring bench behavior, reporting misconduct, and organizing the entry of medical or administrative staff onto the pitch when needed.
The fourth official also monitors warming-up substitutes, ensures communication tools and electronic boards are ready, and logs administrative events like substitutions, yellow cards, and red cards as requested by the main referee.
In tournaments utilizing Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology, the fourth official may assist in coordinating between the on-field crew and the VAR room, though they are not responsible for making VAR decisions.
While the fourth official typically remains off the pitch, they can take over as the main referee if the latter suffers an injury or cannot continue, according to competition regulations. They can also help control exceptional situations on the pitch if requested by the main referee.
Though stationed outside the lines, the fourth official’s role remains essential in organizing the match and supporting the crew to ensure the game is conducted properly.
On Friday, FIFA announced the refereeing assignment for the 2026 World Cup final between Spain and Argentina, which takes place Sunday at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
FIFA assigned the match to Slovenian referee Slavko Vinčić, assisted by Tomaž Klančnik and Andraž Kovačič. Jordanian international referee Adham Makhadmeh was chosen as the fourth official, and Jordanian Mohammad Al-Bakkar was selected as the reserve assistant referee.
Makhadmeh's appointment to the final crowns a standout Jordanian participation in the tournament, following strong performances in several World Cup matches.
The 2026 World Cup final will take place Sunday, July 19, at the New York New Jersey stadium to crown the champion of the first edition to feature 48 teams.
