The referee for the Belgium vs Senegal match at the 2026 World Cup is Said Martinez. The game is set to take place on Friday evening at 9pm British time at the Seattle Stadium. Both teams are looking to recover from poor tournament starts, with Belgium and Senegal winning their final group matches to qualify for the Round of 32.
Background on Said Martinez
Said Martinez is a Honduran referee with experience officiating at high-profile tournaments, including the 2026 World Cup. He has previously overseen matches such as the 0-0 draw between England and Ghana and the 1-1 stalemate between Qatar and Switzerland. Martinez has an average of 2.5 bookings per game at the World Cup and has awarded one penalty in two matches.
Assistant Referees and Officials
Joining Martinez for the Belgium vs Senegal match are assistant referees Walter Lopez and Christian Ramirez, both from Honduras. The fourth official is Andres Rojas, while Alexander Guzman will serve as the reserve assistant referee, both from Colombia. This officiating team brings a wealth of experience to the match.
Controversial Decisions and Refereeing Style
Said Martinez has faced criticism for some of his decisions, notably during the match between England and Ghana, where he did not award a penalty that many considered clear. His refereeing style is characterized by a willingness to issue cards, averaging 4.1 bookings per game in 14 CONCACAF Champions League matches and nearly six bookings per match in three Olympic Games. This trend of issuing cards has made him a figure of interest in the tournament.
- Match time: 9pm British time
- Location: Seattle Stadium
- Assistant referees: Walter Lopez, Christian Ramirez
- Fourth official: Andres Rojas
- Reserve assistant referee: Alexander Guzman
🤖 This article was rewritten by Feed and Figures' editorial AI from a report originally published by FourFourTwo. Facts and quotes are preserved from the original; the rewrite focuses on clarity and structure. For the unedited original, see the source link below.
