Rabat – FIFA has appointed Moroccan referee Jalal Jayed as the fourth official for the 2026 FIFA World Cup third-place playoff between France and England. Fellow Moroccan Zakaria Brinsi will serve as the reserve assistant referee.
The match is scheduled to take place on Saturday, July 18, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, with kickoff set for 10 p.m. Morocco time.
Venezuelan referee Jesús Valenzuela will officiate the match, assisted by compatriotes Jorge Urrego and Tulio Moreno.
Jayed’s latest appointment extends an impressive World Cup campaign that has seen him earn FIFA’s trust across both the group stage and knockout rounds.
The 39-year-old has officiated four matches during the tournament, taking charge of Germany’s group-stage clash against Curaçao and Portugal’s meeting with Uzbekistan before serving as fourth official during the Round of 32 match between Germany and Paraguay and the Round of 16 encounter between Mexico and Norway.
His selection for another knockout-stage fixture highlights FIFA’s confidence in his performances throughout the competition.
Jayed also continued Morocco’s refereeing legacy at the tournament by becoming only the third Moroccan center referee to officiate at a men’s FIFA World Cup, following in the footsteps of the late Said Belqola and Mohamed Guezzaz.
His opening assignment against Curaçao marked the return of a Moroccan center referee to the World Cup after a 24-year absence.
Throughout the tournament, Jayed has been supported by Moroccan assistant referees Zakaria Brinsi and Mustapha Akarkad, while Moroccan video assistant referee Hamza El Fareq has also been among the officials selected for the expanded 2026 World Cup.
His latest appointment ensures Moroccan officiating will once again be represented on one of the tournament’s biggest stages, as France and England battle for third place before Sunday’s World Cup final.
