Said Martinez is set to etch his name into football history when he takes charge of the Group B clash between Qatar and Switzerland at the FIFA World Cup 2026, becoming the first Honduran-born referee ever to officiate at a World Cup fixture.

The match kicks off at 3pm ET (8pm UK time) at the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, where past hosts Qatar make their return to the global stage just four years after staging the 2022 tournament.

A referee shaped by family

At 34, Martinez is a relatively young official for such a high-profile assignment, yet he has been refereeing since the age of 18 — driven by a desire to follow in his father's footsteps. That early start earned him the distinction of becoming the youngest-ever referee in the Honduran top division.

His career has taken him through Nations League matches and on to the grandest occasions Concacaf has to offer. In 2021, he was the man in the middle for the Concacaf Gold Cup final between Mexico and the United States — one of the most watched matches in the confederation's calendar.

El Matematico and his card record

Away from the pitch, Martinez once stepped back from refereeing to pursue a degree in mathematics, a detour that earned him the affectionate nickname El Matematico. He returned to officiating and has not looked back since.

His statistical record tells a firm but busy story: across 310 matches, he averages 4.22 yellow cards per game and has shown 106 red cards throughout his career. Even by the standards of South American football — where physical play is common — that tally places him among the more card-active officials in the region.

The full officiating team

Martinez will be flanked by his Honduran compatriots Walter Lopez and Christian Ramirez as assistant referees. Oshane Nation of Jamaica takes the fourth official role, while Argentina's Mauro Vigliano will oversee VAR for the Group B fixture.