Adham Makhadmeh has been appointed as the referee for England's 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 32 knockout match against DR Congo, scheduled for July 1, 2026, at Atlanta Stadium. The 39-year-old Jordanian official, born in February 1987, holds dual heritage from a Jordanian father and a Bosnian mother, and possesses both Jordanian and Bosnian passports.
FIFA Career and Major Appointments
Makhadmeh has been a FIFA-accredited international referee since 2013, representing the Jordanian Football Association. His early career highlight came in 2017 when he officiated the first leg of the AFC Champions League final between Al Hilal and Urawa Red Diamonds. Over the past decade, he has become a prominent figure in Asian football, regularly handling AFC Champions League, AFC Cup, and Asian World Cup qualifier matches.
At the 2023 AFC Asian Cup (held in January 2024), he refereed the group stage match between Thailand and Kyrgyzstan. During the 2025 FIFA Arab Cup in Qatar, he officiated multiple matches, including the quarter-final between Algeria and the United Arab Emirates.
2026 World Cup Debut and Knockout Stage
In April 2026, Makhadmeh was selected as a match official for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, working alongside two Jordanian assistant referees. He made his World Cup debut on June 15, 2026, officiating the Group H match between Spain and Cape Verde, and later took charge of the Group G game between New Zealand and Belgium on June 26. His strong performances in the group stage earned him the appointment for the England vs DR Congo knockout fixture.
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