File photo: This is Omar Al-Ali’s first FIFA World Cup appearance. | Photo Credit: Getty Images
File photo: This is Omar Al-Ali’s first FIFA World Cup appearance. | Photo Credit: Getty Images
New Zealand and Egypt are set to face off in both sides’ second FIFA World Cup 2026 Group G match on Sunday.
Both sides failed to win their previous games, with New Zealand drawing 2-2 to Iran and Egypt drawing 1-1 to Belgium. This means Group G still has all four teams on one point.
Notably, if this game ends with a win for either side, it will be their first-ever FIFA World Cup victory.
The referee for New Zealand vs Egypt FIFA World Cup 2026 match has been announced as Emirati official Omar Al-Ali.
Al-Ali made his debut in the UAE Pro League in 2014 and became a regular official in the league. A year after his debut, he was recognised by the Asian Football Confederation, refereeing an international friendly between Iraq and DR Congo in March 2015.
This is set to be Al-Ali’s first FIFA World Cup appearance. He will become only the second Emirati to take central refereeing duties in a FIFA World Cup match after Ali Bujsaim, who refereed at the 1994, 1998, and 2002 World Cups.
In his career so far, the 38-year-old has taken charge of 219 games, issuing 847 yellow cards (average 3.87 per match) and 70 red cards (average 0.32 per match).
Arguably, Al-Ali’s most notable game of his career so far has been the 2023/24 AFC Cup final, where Central Coast Mariners defeated Al-Ahed 1-0. He has also refereed one group stage game at the most recent AFC Asian Cup.
Published on Jun 22, 2026
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