Qatari referee Abdulrahman Al Jassim will take charge of England's Group L clash against Panama at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with the match kicking off at 10pm British time at the MetLife Stadium.

The appointment comes at a critical juncture for England, who were held to a frustrating draw against Ghana in their previous outing and have yet to secure qualification. Thomas Tuchel's side need a positive result to strengthen their grip on top spot in Group L.

Al Jassim's World Cup pedigree

Al Jassim is no stranger to the biggest stage. At this tournament, he has already officiated Portugal's 1-1 draw with DR Congo, making the England vs Panama assignment his second assignment of the competition.

His World Cup experience stretches back to 2022, when he refereed the USA's group stage meeting with Wales, as well as the third-place play-off between Croatia and Morocco.

Across his three World Cup appearances to date, Al Jassim averages four bookings per match and has awarded one penalty.

A disciplined record in club football

The Qatari official also carries considerable weight of experience from the AFC Champions League elite, having overseen 46 matches in that competition. In those games, he has issued nine red cards, averaged 3.4 bookings per match, and awarded a spot kick at a rate of nearly one every two games.

Al Jassim will be assisted by his fellow Qatari officials Taleb Salem Al Marri and Saoud Ahmed, who serve as his assistants. Switzerland provides the remaining officials, with Sandro Schaerer as fourth official and Stephane De Almeida as reserve assistant referee.