Premiere at a World Cup
Newbie referee whistles Germany’s opener
June 11, 2026 – 6:39 p.mReading time: 1 min.
A World Cup newcomer whistles the first German game at the World Cup. The DFB team is the clear favorite against Curaçao.
FIFA has nominated the Moroccan referee Jalal Jayed for the German national team’s first World Cup game. The 39-year-old will referee the game against Curaçao in Houston on Sunday – it will be his first game at a World Cup.
His compatriots Zakaria Brinsi and Mostafa Akarkad are at his side on the sidelines. The fourth official is Abongile Tom from South Africa.
Germany will also face Ivory Coast and Ecuador in Group E. The game against Curaçao starts on Sunday at 7 p.m. and will be shown on ARD and MagentaTV.
The German referee Felix Zwayer will not yet be used on the opening weekend of the World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico.