Trending in Seoul! The Egyptian referee who shocked the World Cup with a 'Flawless Masterclass'

World Cup 2026 Today at 12:57

Khaled Hegazy

News Editor

11.06.26 FT World Cup

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Egyptian official Amin Omar executed a flawless refereeing masterclass during a tense World Cup 2026 fixture in North America.

Taking charge of the tournament's second match, Omar represented the very first appearance of Arab and African referees at the 2026 finals.

Before a ball was even kicked, FIFA Referees Committee Chairman Pierluigi Collina publicly praised the official's capabilities. Omar immediately justified that high confidence, completely dominating search engine trends in South Korea as fans celebrated his absolute fairness in their national team's thrilling 2-1 victory.

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Crucial calls and calm authority

The defining moment arrived when the Czech Republic, already leading, seemingly doubled their advantage through a Tomas Soucek header.

Supported by an all Egyptian officiating crew, including assistants Ahmed Hossam Taha & Mahmoud Abou El-Regal, plus Mahmoud Ashour on VAR, Omar decisively ruled the goal out for offside. This flawless call directly paved the way for the Asian squad's spirited comeback.

Throughout the intense clash, Omar maintained ultimate authority without aggressive discipline, whistling for 27 foul and issuing just a single yellow card to Lee Ki-hyuk for late time wasting.

He even meticulously paused play to force Czech forward Pavel Sulc to replace a torn jersey following a heavy physical challenge.

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