Washington, DC – The 2026 FIFA World Cup Organizing Committee has announced the appointment of Egyptian referee Amin Omar to officiate the Argentina-Austria match in the second round of Group J.
This move reflects the growing confidence in Egyptian refereeing capabilities on the international stage.
Amin Omar will be assisted by Mahmoud Abouelregal and Ahmed Hossam Taha.
Alejandro Hernandez of Spain will serve as the fourth official.
Diego Sanchez will be in charge of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system.
International confidence in Egyptian arbitration
The selection of Amin Omar to officiate the match comes after his impressive performance in his debut as a referee during the tournament.
He officiated the match between the Czech Republic and South Korea,
earning widespread praise from fans and refereeing experts.
Assigning a match of this magnitude, Argentina vs. Austria, to an Egyptian crew is
a testament to the growing prominence of Egyptian referees in major tournaments,
especially given the increasing reliance on Arab and African referees in international competitions.
An important match in Group 10
Group 10 is witnessing fierce competition, featuring Argentina, Austria, Jordan, and Algeria.
Each team is striving to improve its chances of qualifying for the next round.
The Argentinian team enters the match with high morale after its 3-0 victory over Algeria in the first round.
This win earned them their first three points in the tournament and put them at the top of the group.
Messi leads the Tango’s ambitions
Argentina will rely on the experience of their captain, Lionel Messi, to continue their strong start in the tournament.
Meanwhile, Austria will be looking to secure a positive result to boost their chances of qualifying.
The match is generating significant public and media interest, not only for its technical merit
but also because it will be officiated by an all-Egyptian refereeing team,
one of the most anticipated matches of the second round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
