Al Kaf, a FIFA badge holder since 2012, has officiated several high-profile encounters, including the 2016 AFC Champions League™ final between Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors and Al Ain FC, along with multiple matches in the AFC Cup™ and the AFC Asian Cup™ in 2019.

 

Al Turais and Nazmi have also earned strong reputations on the Continental stage, having officiated in the AFC Asian Cup™, AFC Champions League Elite™, and AFC Champions League Two™.

 

Joining the trio are assistant referees Abu Bakar Al Amri and Rashid Al Ghaithi from Oman, the Saudi Arabian duo of Mohammed Al Abakry and Abdulrahim Al Shammari, and Zairul Khalil Tan and Mohamad Muazi Zainal Abidin, both of whom hail from Malaysia.

 

The appointments underline the AFC’s steadfast success in nurturing referees capable of officiating at the highest level, with the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 serving as the latest example, where AFC match officials took charge of both the opening and Final matches.

 

Moreover, in recent tournaments, Asian referees, many of whom are graduates of the acclaimed AFC Referee Academy, have also featured prominently across major FIFA competitions, including the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Dominican Republic 2024, FIFA Futsal World Cup Uzbekistan 2024, FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Colombia 2024, and FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup UAE 2024.