FIFA appoints Moroccan referee Jalal Jayed for Portugal's World Cup match against Uzbekistan

Referee appointment

FIFA announced on Saturday that Moroccan referee Jalal Jayed will officiate the Portugal vs Uzbekistan match on Tuesday, June 23, at NRG Stadium in Houston. The 39-year-old will be assisted by compatriots Zakaria Brinsi and Mostafa Akarkad, with South African Abongile Tom as fourth official. The video assistant referee (VAR) team will be confirmed 24 hours before kickoff. Jayed made his World Cup debut in the opening round, overseeing Germany's 7-1 win over Curaçao.

Group K standings and opening results

Portugal began their campaign with a 1-1 draw against DR Congo on June 17. João Neves headed in after six minutes, but Yoane Wissa equalised during first-half stoppage time. Colombia leads the group with three points after beating Uzbekistan 3-1. Portugal and DR Congo each have one point, while Uzbekistan sits bottom with zero.

Portugal's display and the Ronaldo criticism

The draw prompted criticism of Portugal's performance, particularly directed at captain Cristiano Ronaldo. International media reported he had limited influence during the match. Diogo Dalot later addressed the scrutiny around his teammate.

“When you have Cristiano in the squad, you have to be prepared for the out-of-the-ordinary noise.”

“His ability to deal with criticism is already known, with over 20 years of service to the national team.”

The squad has been described as "blindada" (shielded), with Dalot insisting the group remains strong and united despite the setback.

Dalot urges improvement

Speaking at a press conference in Palm Beach, Florida, on Saturday, Diogo Dalot admitted the team's anxiety during the opener and stressed the need for tactical corrections.

“The time is short and we don't have much time to train between games. There were aspects that were obvious to us.”

He emphasised that winning is the priority, irrespective of style, against a combative Uzbekistan side that showed promise in defeat to Colombia.

Looking ahead

After the Uzbekistan fixture, Portugal will conclude the group stage against Colombia in Miami on June 27. The 2026 World Cup, the first edition with 48 teams, runs until July 19 across the United States, Mexico and Canada.