The 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 16 showdown between United States and Belgium will be officiated by Adham Makhadmeh of Jordan, a relatively low-profile appointment that nonetheless carries considerable weight ahead of one of the tournament's most intriguing last-16 matchups.

The match kicks off at 1am BST on Tuesday morning at Seattle Stadium, pitting an impressive USMNT side — who won three of their group-stage games with authority — against a Belgian outfit that needed a remarkable comeback to edge past Senegal in the Round of 32.

A referee who keeps cards in his pocket

At 39 years old, Makhadmeh heads into this fixture having overseen three matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. His tournament began with Spain's goalless draw with Cape Verde, a result that made history as one of the most stunning upsets the competition has ever seen. He then took charge of England's meeting with DR Congo, where he notably refused to award a penalty after dismissing what appeared to be a Harry Kane dive — despite England trailing 1-0 at the time.

Most recently, Makhadmeh refereed Belgium's Group G finale against New Zealand, a commanding 5-1 victory that sent the Red Devils through as group winners.

Across those three appearances, the Jordanian official has averaged just two bookings per match and has yet to issue a red card or point to the penalty spot — figures that paint him as one of the more lenient referees at this tournament.

Experience from the AFC Champions League Elite

The bulk of Makhadmeh's refereeing career has been built in the AFC Champions League Elite, where across 58 matches he has shown red nine times, awarded 13 penalties, and averaged 3.6 bookings per game — slightly higher than his World Cup average, but still measured compared to many of his peers. In World Cup qualifiers and the Arab Cup, his booking rate holds steady at around three per match.

Disciplinary context for both teams

The disciplinary records of both sides add an extra layer of intrigue to this appointment. United States and Belgium have each had a player sent off during this tournament. For the USMNT, that player was Folarin Balogun, whose red card rules him out of Tuesday's Round of 16 encounter entirely.

With a referee who prefers to let games flow and two sides carrying the weight of recent suspensions, the Seattle Stadium fixture promises to be a tense and closely contested affair.