FIFA has appointed Dutch referee Danny Makkelie as the fourth official for the World Cup Round of 16 match between Canada and Morocco.
The game will take place at the NRG Stadium in Houston on Saturday, July 4, 2026.
>>> North Vancouver Volleyball Coach Charged with 10 Sexual Offenses
Officiating Crew
English referee Michael Oliver will lead the officiating crew.
He will be assisted by Stuart Burt and James Mainwaring, with Hessel Steegstra serving as the reserve assistant referee.
This is the first time in the tournament that Makkelie has been assigned a supporting role rather than serving as the main referee.
Makkelie's World Cup Experience
Makkelie previously refereed three group stage matches during this World Cup.
>>> Canadiens Lock Up Goaltender Jakub Dobes with Three-Year Extension
Those matches were the United States against Paraguay (4-1), Morocco against Haiti (4-2), and France against Sweden (3-0).
This tournament marks the second World Cup appearance for the Dordrecht-based official. He previously refereed two matches at the 2022 World Cup and two games at EURO 2024.
Road to the Round of 16
Morocco advanced to the Round of 16 after eliminating the Netherlands in a penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw.
Canada secured its spot by defeating South Africa 1-0.
>>> Unverified AI Aggregators and Single Providers Pose Corporate Risks
The winner of the Saturday evening fixture will advance to the quarterfinals to face either Paraguay or France.
