SAID MARTINEZ is the man with the whistle as England face Ghana in their second match at World Cup 2026.
Martinez, 34, is a highly experienced and he became the first Honduras-born ref to take charge of a game when drew 1-1 with Qatar on June 13.
Said Martinez is making history at the World Cup Credit: Getty
The experienced ref dreamed of becoming an official as he wanted to follow in his dad’s footsteps Credit: Reuters
Who is Said Martinez?
Said Martinez was born in Tocoa in 1991, and he dreamed of following in his father’s footsteps and becoming a .
By the age of 18, he was an official in the Honduras top-flight and set a record for the youngest ref ever in the Liga Naciona.
Martinez briefly hung up his whistle to study maths, which earned him the nickname “El Matematico”.
He returned to refereeing in 2017 and was soon taking charge of Concacaf Gold Cup matches.
In 2021, he officiated the Concacaf Gold Cup final between the and .
He has since refereed major Nations League and Leagues Cup matches.
Martinez averages 4.17 yellow cards per game ahead of the World Cup, making him one of the firmer officials in North America.
Hondurans Walter Lopez and Christian Ramirez are his assistants.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
I'm dedicated to creating high-quality content that informs, inspires, and delights. If you have any questions or suggestions, don't hesitate to get in touch. Happy reading!
