International football referee Omar Al Ali expressed his great happiness at being selected to referee the 2026 World Cup finals. He described this choice as a historic moment in his life, which he had been waiting for after a long refereeing career that began in 2010. His presence at this global event came thanks to the prayers and support of his parents, as well as the great support from his wife, who was a pillar of strength for him during his refereeing journey, especially during his absences from home to officiate overseas matches. Al Ali emphasized that his presence at the World Cup is a great responsibility that requires a dignified representation of Emirati refereeing. He added that his family was very happy to hear the good news, and participating in the World Cup is a great honor and a great responsibility. His program for the upcoming World Cup was put together a long time ago in a comprehensive manner, and he will continue to follow it, preparing strongly to appear at the World Cup. The Emirati refereeing team, led by Omar Al Ali, will leave for the United States at the end of May to officially enter the World Cup atmosphere in preparation for any matches assigned to them. When asked about his role model in refereeing, Omar Al Ali said: "World Cup referee Ali Boghim is my role model and inspiration in refereeing, as he has given a lot to Emirati refereeing and left a big mark, and this places a great responsibility on me to follow in his footsteps by representing Emirati refereeing at this upcoming World Cup." Al Ali concluded by thanking his family, his employer, and the officials of the UAE Football Federation for their immense support, which culminated in this great achievement for Emirati refereeing — its eighth appearance in World Cup history.
