2026 World Cup: here is the referee appointed for Cape Verde vs Spain

World Cup 2026 Today at 10:45

Nouya M'toama

News Editor

FIFA has officially announced the referee who will take charge of the clash between Cape Verde and Spain, counting for the group stage of the 2026 World Cup. The man in the middle will be Jordanian referee Adham Makhadmeh.

Jordan’s Adham Makhadmeh has been selected to officiate this historic showdown between the two national teams, scheduled for June 15 in Atlanta. The referee boasts solid experience on the Asian continental stage. An international referee since 2013, he made his debut in a friendly between Qatar and Lebanon before joining the elite officiating crew of the prestigious AFC Champions League in 2014. Since then, he has overseen more than 55 matches in the competition and also participated in the Asian qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup.

One of the standout moments of his career remains the 2017 AFC Champions League final between Al-Hilal and Urawa Red Diamonds, played in Riyadh.

Accustomed to major international competitions, Adham Makhadmeh has also refereed at the AFC Asian Cup, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, as well as the 2019 U-20 World Cup.

However, the match between Cape Verde and Spain will mark his very first appearance in a World Cup finals, a significant milestone in the Jordanian referee’s career.