A history-making Honduran referee will take charge of Belgium and Senegal’s 2026 World Cup clash today, as both nations bid to seal qualification for the last 16.

The talented teams from Europe and Africa respectively meet in the round of 32 after progressing from the group stage.

Why is Said Martínez making history?

At this summer’s tournament in North America, Martínez became the first ever Honduran to be the lead referee in a men’s World Cup match. The 34-year-old made his debut as the man in the middle on June 13, when he oversaw Qatar’s 1-1 draw with Switzerland in Group B. He then also whistled in England’s Group L game against Ghana.

A FIFA international official since 2017, Martínez has been to a men’s World Cup before - but only as an assistant. In Qatar in 2022, he was the fourth official for nine games, including England’s last-16 victory over Senegal.

“I never imagined I’d be an international referee, a World Cup referee,” Martínez told an interview in the Honduran media in May. “But at the same time, I’ve always had faith that if something has been before, you can do it too; and if it hasn’t been done, you can be the first.”

Within the CONCACAF region - comprising North America, Central America and the Caribbean - Martínez has accrued major appointments at both club and international level.

A regular in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, the confederation’s elite club competition, he refereed Seattle Sounders’ win over Pumas in the 2021 final. In national-team soccer, meanwhile, Martínez’s notable games include the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup final and 2023 CONCACAF Nations League final, which witnessed U.S. victories over Mexico and Canada, respectively.

Belgium vs Senegal: full list of match officials

• Referee: Said Martínez, Honduras
• Assistant referee 1: Walter López, Honduras
• Assistant referee 2: Christian Ramírez, Honduras
• Fourth official: Andrés Rojas, Colombia
• Reserve assistant referee: Alexander Guzmán, Colombia

Belgium vs Senegal: kickoff times, how to watch in the U.S.

• Time: 4:00 p.m. ET/1:00 p.m. PT
• Venue: Seattle Stadium, Seattle, Washington
• TV/stream: FS1, Telemundo, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo, FOX One, fubo

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