Mauritanian debutant Dahane Beida to referee Austria vs Jordan at World Cup 2026

Dahane Beida of Mauritania has been appointed to referee Austria vs Jordan at the FIFA World Cup 2026, with the match taking place in Santa Clara. The 34-year-old makes his World Cup debut in a fixture that also marks Jordan’s first-ever appearance at the tournament.

Beida is one of the youngest referees at the Finals, but he arrives with considerable experience at the highest level of African football. He took charge of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations Final between Nigeria and Ivory Coast, and has since officiated at the 2024 Olympic Games in France — handling three matches — before adding three more at the most recent edition of AFCON to his résumé. He was also among the officials selected for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in the United States.

Austria, making their seventh World Cup appearance, have been absent from the tournament for six consecutive editions, meaning emotions are expected to run high when they take to the field. Jordan, meanwhile, carry the momentum of a nation experiencing the World Cup stage for the very first time.

Beida will be assisted by Jerson Santos of Angola and Elvis Noupue of Cameroon on the lines. Oshane Nation of Jamaica has been named as fourth official, while Mahmoud Mohamed Ashour of Egypt will lead the VAR operation.