Who is the referee for Argentina vs Austria?

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JUNE 16: Lionel Messi #10 of Argentina celebrates after scoring the team's first goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group J match between Argentina and Algeria
Lionel Messi will be looking to build on his opening game hat-trick (Image credit: Getty Images)

Argentina and Austria both started their World Cup campaigns with wins, beating Algeria and Jordan respectively.

The two go head-to-head this evening, where a victory will guarantee progress to the next round of the tournament.

Here's who will be in charge of the match.

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Egyptian officials to take charge of Argentina vs Austria

LUSAIL CITY, QATAR - DECEMBER 11: Referee Amin Mohamed Omar gestures during the FIFA Arab Cup 2025 Quarter Final match between Palestine and Saudi Arabia at Lusail Stadium on December 11, 2025 in Lusail City, Qatar. (Photo by Mohamed Farag - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

Egyptian referee Amin Omar will referee Argentina vs Austria (Image credit: Getty Images)

Egyptian referee Amin Omar has been selected for tonight's clash, alongside two assistants, also from Egypt.

This will be Omar's second match at the tournament after he oversaw the opening-round clash between Czechia and South Korea.

LUSAIL CITY, QATAR - DECEMBER 11: Referee Amin Mohamed Omar and Feras Albrikan of Saudi Arabia interact during the FIFA Arab Cup 2025 Quarter Final match between Palestine and Saudi Arabia at Lusail Stadium on December 11, 2025 in Lusail City, Qatar. (Photo by Mohamed Farag - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

Amin Omar during FIFA's 2025 Arab Cup (Image credit: Getty Images)

The 40-year-old has been taking charge of matches in the Egyptian Premier League for the last 13 years, but also has plenty of international experience, having been present at every Africa Cup of Nations since 2019.

In 12 regular-season games in 2025-26, he issued 53 yellow cards and sent off three players, all of them for two yellow cards, according to Transfermarkt.

He will be joined by assistants Mahmoud Abou El Regal and Ahmed Hossam Taha, who will be helping out from the touchlines.

The fourth official and the reserve assistant referee are Alejandro Hernandez and Diego Sanchez, both from Spain.

Omar averages between three and four yellow cards per match, as well as a red card every five matches during Egyptian club ties.

David Alaba of Austria looks on during the international friendly match between Austria and Tunisia at Ernst Happel Stadion on June 1, 2026 in Vienna, Austria.

Austria are hoping to build on their win against Jordan at the World Cup (Image credit: Marco Steinbrenner/DeFodi Images/DeFodi via Getty Images)

On average, he awards a penalty slightly less frequently than every other game in domestic club football.

A win for either side tonight would see them through to the next round of the tournament, while defeat wouldn't be the worst thing in the world.

With a game against Jordan up next for Argentina and Algeria awaiting Austria, there's still an opportunity for both to progress.

Ryan Gray
Freelance Writer

Ryan Gray is a freelance writer, covering mainly travel and occasionally sport. He previously spent two years as Sports Editor at the Watford Observer before turning his hand to travel writing, with his work appearing in various national UK publications. He has gone from providing matchday commentary for Blyth Spartans to covering FA Cup and Euros finals, as well as interviewing the likes of Claudio Ranieri, Alan Shearer and Glenn Hoddle, among other big names. 

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