Published On 7/8/2026
The refereeing performance of Jordanian international referee Adham Makhamdeh received praise from experts and specialized platforms, after officiating a number of difficult matches in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the most recent of which was the confrontation between the United States and Belgium in the round of 16.
Makhadama, 39 years old, is one of the most prominent Arab referees participating in the current World Cup, and the most referee of matches so far, with a record of 4 matches, which enhances his chances of appearing during the advanced stages of the tournament.
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International acclaim
In an artistic reading of his performance during the confrontation with the United States and Belgium, former German referee and arbitration expert Manuel Greiffe, via the “X” platform, praised the Jordanian referee, considering that he gave an excellent performance and maintained his calm despite the circumstances of the match.
For his part, French sports analyst Arnaud Mercier commented on the leadership style of the Jordanian referee, explaining in press statements that Makhadmeh imposed clear discipline on the field and controlled the players’ protests without the need to excessively display colorful cards.
Specialized analyzes also focused on Makhadama’s ability to manage controversial situations inside the penalty area, without excessive resort to the video assistant referee (VAR) technology, in addition to his control over players’ protests without excessively displaying cards.
The Spanish “Archivo VAR” platform, which specializes in analyzing arbitration cases, reported that Makhadma performed well in the match between England and the Democratic Republic of Congo in the round of 32, and gave him a high rating of 8 out of 10.
The platform praised the Jordanian referee’s positioning and closeness to the course of the game, considering that this helped him make accurate decisions in influential situations.
The “LetsGoMaestros” platform, which is concerned with evaluating refereeing leadership, also focused on harmony and rapid verbal communication between Makhmama and his assistant staff, which contributed to rapid decision-making with high accuracy.
In the same context, Colombian journalist and sports analyst Pablo Rios Gonzalez described Makhadma’s performance as “flawless,” expressing in press statements his hope that his refereeing career will continue during the World Cup.
Bosnian media outlets, including the Clicks website, also highlighted Makhadima’s participation in the tournament, pointing out his Bosnian origins on his mother’s side, and that he also holds Bosnian citizenship.
The website described the confrontation between the United States and Belgium as “the most controversial in the tournament,” given “the political and media pressure that preceded the match, especially after the public intervention of US President Donald Trump and his comments behind the scenes of the tournament.”
This came after the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) decided to cancel the red card penalty against American striker Folarin Balogun, following his expulsion in a previous match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, allowing him to participate in the match against Belgium.
The match ended with Belgium defeating the United States 4-1, qualifying for the quarter-finals and setting a date with Spain.
Arabic praises
On the Arab media level, sports analysts praised the performance of the Jordanian refereeing team, led by Makhamma, and his assistants Muhammad Bakkar and Ahmed Al-Ruwaili, considering that he succeeded in controlling the course of the match between the United States and Belgium and dealing with the atmosphere of tension surrounding it.
Sports analyst Muhammad Awad praised the courage and objectivity of the Jordanian arbitration team, led by Makhamma and his assistants Muhammad Bakkar and Ahmed Al-Ruwaili.
He pointed out in a blog post on the “X” platform their complete success in controlling the course of the meeting and dealing with the atmosphere of tension surrounding it with distinction.
For his part, Egyptian journalist and sports critic Alaa Sadiq reviewed a statistic that distinguished the Jordanian referee.
Sadiq pointed out on his page on the Facebook platform that Makhadmeh officiated 4 matches in the World Cup, and he is the only referee who was present in the Round of 32 and Round of 16, and he succeeded in leading all of those confrontations efficiently without the need for expulsion decisions or the award of penalty kicks.
Arab sports platforms also circulated video clips of the refereeing crew leaving the field during the match between the United States and Belgium, amid applause from fans in the stands.
The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) had chosen 9 Arab field referees to manage the 2026 World Cup, including Jordanian Adham Makhamma, along with Qatari Abdul Rahman Al Jassim, Emirati Omar Al Ali, Saudi Khaled Al Taris, Egyptian Amin Omar, Algerian Mustafa Gharbal, Moroccan Jalal Gayed, Mauritanian Dahan Beda, and Somali Omar Abdul Qadir Artan (who was not allowed to enter the United States).
Last April, FIFA announced the selection of 52 field referees, 88 assistant referees and 30 video referees, from 50 national federations, to manage the matches of the current edition of the World Cup, which is being held in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
