FIFA has appointed German referee Daniel Siebert to officiate the 2026 FIFA World Cup match between Algeria and Jordan, scheduled for June 21, 2026. Siebert, 42, has been a FIFA-listed referee since 2015 and has officiated at major tournaments, including the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
However, Siebert's appointment has drawn criticism due to his controversial performance in a previous World Cup match. In 2022, he was heavily criticized for his handling of the group stage match between Portugal and Uruguay, where he awarded a penalty to Portugal after a VAR review, a decision that was deemed harsh by many analysts.
Algerian and Jordanian fans have expressed concerns on social media about Siebert's past decisions, but FIFA has defended the appointment, stating that Siebert is one of the most experienced referees in the tournament. The match is crucial for both teams as they vie for a spot in the knockout stages.
