Moroccan referee Jalal Jayed appointed for Portugal vs Uzbekistan at World Cup 2026

Jalal Jayed of Morocco will referee Portugal’s FIFA World Cup 2026 Group K fixture against Uzbekistan at Houston Stadium on Tuesday, with Cristiano Ronaldo targeting a historic milestone in front of goal.

Jayed has been a FIFA-listed referee since 2019 and is already experienced at this tournament, having overseen Germany’s 7-1 victory over Curacao in Group E without issuing a single yellow or red card, though he did award Germany a penalty for a foul on Felix Nmecha.

His major-tournament credentials also include the third-place playoff between Egypt and Nigeria at last year’s Africa Cup of Nations. At 39, he is the first Moroccan referee to officiate at a World Cup since Mohamed Guezzaz did so at the 2002 tournament in South Korea and Japan, and has been refereeing top-flight matches in Morocco since 2015.

Jayed’s compatriots Zakaria Brinsi and Mostafa Akarkad will serve as assistant referees. South African Abongile Tom is the fourth official, while Uruguayan Leodan Gonzalez and Moroccan Hamza El Fareq will handle VAR duties.

Portugal arrive in Houston under pressure after being held by a well-organised DR Congo side in their Group K opener. Roberto Martinez’s squad are heavy favourites against Uzbekistan, but the sharper storyline surrounds Ronaldo, who has yet to score at this tournament. Should he find the net, he would become the first player in history to score at six separate World Cups — a record that has so far eluded him despite Portugal’s status as group favourites.

Lionel Messi made World Cup history on Monday, adding further context to Ronaldo’s pursuit of his own landmark. A set-piece — free-kick or penalty — could prove the likeliest route to that milestone, making Jayed’s decisions in and around the box all the more significant.