Egyptian officials to referee Al Ahli Jeddah v Auckland City at Intercontinental Cup opener

A full Egyptian refereeing team led by Amr El Omda has been appointed by FIFA for the Intercontinental Cup tie between Al Ahli Jeddah and New Zealand’s Auckland City.

The match is scheduled to be played on 26 August at Al Inmaa Stadium in the Saudi city of Jeddah, with the Egyptian crew selected to oversee what is regarded as a key early fixture in the competition.

FIFA confirmed that international referee Amr El Omda will take charge as the referee, with Mahmoud Abu El Regal and Ahmed Hossam Taha named as his assistant referees on the touchlines.

Mahmoud Nagy has been designated as the fourth official for the game.

VAR team confirmed

In the video operation room, Mahmoud Ashour will serve as the video assistant referee (VAR), supported by fellow Egyptian official Tarek Magdy as assistant VAR.

The appointment continues a sequence of high-profile international assignments for the Egyptian group under the leadership of El Omda in recent years.

Their selection for this Intercontinental Cup clash reflects the confidence FIFA has shown in the quartet and their ability to handle matches of increasing importance on the global stage.

Rising profile for Egyptian referee

El Omda has built a strong reputation through his performances in both continental and global competitions, which has strengthened his status among leading referees across Africa and Asia.

His displays in these tournaments have been cited as a key reason behind the growing trust placed in him by international refereeing committees.

World Cup experience

The 2026 FIFA World Cup further enhanced his profile, with El Omda appointed to officiate two group-stage matches at the tournament.

He took charge of the game between South Korea and Czech Republic, and later refereed the group match between Argentina and Austria.

Both assignments at the World Cup added to his experience at the highest level and contributed to his continued presence on FIFA’s list for major international competitions, culminating in his latest appointment for Al Ahli Jeddah’s meeting with Auckland City in the Intercontinental Cup.