The referee for tonight's Belgium vs New Zealand match is Adham Makhadmeh, an official from Jordan.
Belgium vs New Zealand is shaping up to be a game filled with drama, as either side look to secure knockout football.
It's a slightly older Belgian 'golden generation' against the All Whites, the lowest ranked team at the tournament, but Group G has been ludicrously tight since its first kick of a football. Can New Zealand spring a shock and step foot into the next round of the 2026 World Cup - and who is the referee?
Who is the referee for Belgium vs New Zealand, Group G, 2026 World Cup?
Belgium vs New Zealand will kick off at 4am British time, with the game being held at BC Place in Vancouver.
Serving as referee for the event is Jordanian official Adham Makhadmeh, who will oversee the evening's proceedings.
The 39-year-old will be joined by fellow countrymen Mohammad Alkalaf and Ahmad Alroalle.
Canada's Kevin Ortega will serve as the fourth official, and Michael Orue as the reserve assistant referee.
Makhadmeh does not boast much prior experience on the World Cup stage, with 2026 being his first tournament as referee.
In this edition, the 39-year-old oversaw Spain's historic draw against Cape Verde, one of the greatest World Cup upsets ever, in which he brandished two cards.
Elsewhere, Makhadmeh has officiated in the FIFA Arab Cup and AFC Asian Cup, as referee for three group stage games and a quarter-final.
The 39-year-old does, however, possess a 10+ year-long FIFA refereeing career, with AFC Champions League experience, also.
In the 2025/26 season, Makhadmeh showed an average of 4.7 cards per match, across 18 games.
With Group G proceedings still so tight, it's entirely possible that both Belgium and New Zealand will need to keep those bookings to a minimum, with discipline being a metric in table positioning.
