Said Martinez becomes first Honduran referee to officiate a World Cup match

Said Martinez will make World Cup history when he referees England’s Group L fixture against Ghana in Boston, becoming the first Honduran official ever to take charge of a match at the tournament.

The 34-year-old previously attended the 2022 Qatar World Cup as an assistant referee, but his appointment for the England vs Ghana game marks a personal and national milestone. Martinez has already officiated Qatar and Switzerland’s 1-1 draw at World Cup 2026 before stepping up for the higher-profile Group L encounter.

“Looking back, it’s something I never imagined, it never even crossed my mind,” Martinez said in an interview with Honduran outlet Diario Diez ahead of the tournament. “I never thought I’d be an international referee, a World Cup referee. If someone else has already done something, you can too, and if someone hasn’t done it, you can be the first. Our family is very proud. This isn’t just a family achievement, but also a source of pride for our instructors, advisors, and fellow referees.”

Despite studying mathematics at university, Martinez has dedicated his career to officiating. He made his debut in the Honduran top flight at just 18 years old, becoming the youngest official in the division’s history, and has since become a regular fixture in Concacaf club and international competitions.

England and Ghana meet in Boston with top spot in Group L at stake.

Match officials — England vs Ghana

Referee: Said Martinez (Honduras)

Assistant Referee: Walter Lopez (Honduras)

Assistant Referee: Christian Ramirez (Honduras)

Fourth Official: Ning Ma (China)

Video Assistant Referee (VAR): Guillermo Pacheco (Mexico)

Reserve Assistant Referee: Fei Zhou (China)