Portuguese referee João Pinheiro will officiate the match between Saudi Arabia and Kuwait on Wednesday in the opening game of the 27th Gulf Cup in Jeddah.
He will be assisted by his compatriots Pedro Ribeiro and Luciano Maia, as part of the foreign officiating crews selected by the Gulf Football Federation.
Pineiro returns to the spotlight after officiating at the 2026 World Cup, where he refereed the quarterfinal match between Argentina and Switzerland.
The match featured a heated exchange between him and Lionel Messi, during which the Argentine captain demanded that the referee address him with respect. The match ended with Argentina winning 3-1 in extra time.
The match also sparked controversy over refereeing decisions after Pinheiro sent off Swiss forward Breel Embolo with a second yellow card following a video review.
The FIFA Council later clarified that the use of VAR in that incident violated established protocol.
Off the field, Pinheiro works as a lawyer in addition to his refereeing duties.
He has recounted that his initial desire to become a referee stemmed from his love of soccer and the opportunity to watch matches for free, before it evolved into a professional career.
He thus enters the Saudi Arabia–Kuwait match with international experience, while his World Cup memories are once again bringing him into the spotlight.
