Folarin Balogun #20 of the United States with referee Adham Makhadmeh during the match between USA and Belgium.
Jordanian referee Adham Makhadmeh earns top rating in World Cup round of 16
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Jordanian international referee Adham Makhadmeh delivered a composed and effective performance in officiating the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between Belgium and the United States on Tuesday, at Seattle Stadium.
Belgium secured a convincing 4-1 victory, advancing to the quarter-finals while ending the host nation's campaign.
Spanish refereeing analysis platform Archivo VAR awarded Makhadmeh a score of 6 out of 10.
This rating tied him for the highest mark among officials in the Round of 16, shared with England's Anthony Taylor.
The evaluation described his display as solid, with no major errors or significant difficulties in managing the match.
Makhadmeh, aged 39, had already established a strong reputation earlier in the tournament.
He received an 8 out of 10 from Archivo VAR for his handling of the Round of 32 encounter between England and DR Congo, one of the top ratings at that stage.
His consistent performances across four matches underscore his reliability on the global stage.
This assignment marked Makhadmeh’s fourth match at the 2026 World Cup.
He previously officiated group-stage fixtures including Spain versus Cape Verde and Belgium versus New Zealand, along with the England-DR Congo knockout game.
He was assisted by fellow Jordanians Mohammad Al-Kalaf and Ahmad Al-Roalle.
Makhadmeh, a FIFA-listed referee since 2013, has built an extensive international record, including appearances at the U-20 World Cup and Olympic Games.
Football fans across social media platforms have drawn striking comparisons between Makhadmeh and the iconic Italian official Pierluigi Collina, frequently dubbing him the "Arab Collina" due to his intense gaze, distinctive bald appearance, and commanding on-field presence.
