Jordanian referee Adham Makhadmeh takes charge of USA vs Belgium round of 16 clash

FIFA has appointed Jordanian official Adham Makhadmeh to referee the World Cup round of 16 clash between the United States and Belgium on Monday, July 6 in Seattle, with the winner advancing to the quarterfinals.

Makhadmeh, 39, has been a FIFA-listed international referee since 2013, accumulating more than a decade of experience across World Cup qualifying, AFC competitions and major international tournaments. His club-football credentials include handling the first leg of the 2017 AFC Champions League final between Al Hilal and Urawa Red Diamonds, one of the most prestigious matches in Asian club football.

He arrived at the 2026 World Cup as part of a Jordanian officiating trio and made his tournament debut in Spain’s Group H fixture against Cape Verde on June 15. He subsequently refereed New Zealand vs Belgium in the group stage on June 26 before taking charge of England’s round of 32 victory over DR Congo on July 1 — making Monday’s assignment his fourth match of the tournament and his second consecutive knockout-round appointment.

The referee spotlight carries particular weight for the United States after the controversy surrounding striker Folarin Balogun’s red card in the 64th minute of their round of 32 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina. Balogun had been expected to serve an automatic one-game suspension and miss the Belgium tie, but the FIFA Disciplinary Committee subsequently overturned the ban, clearing him to play.

A win for the USA would equal the country’s best-ever World Cup run, matching the quarterfinal appearance they made in 2002.