Kenyan referee to officiate Real Madrid match at Club World Cup
Kenyan referee Stephen Yiembe will serve as second assistant referee in the FIFA Club World Cup group stage clash between Real Madrid and RB Salzburg on Friday in Philadelphia, marking his latest appointment on the international stage.
Kenyan referee Stephen Yiembe is set to take part in one of the most high-profile assignments of his career when he officiates the FIFA Club World Cup group stage clash between European giants Real Madrid and Austrian side RB Salzburg on Friday, June 27, 2025.
The match, set for Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, USA, will see Yiembe serve as second assistant referee - his second assignment in the ongoing tournament having served in the same capacity last Friday in the Juventus versus Urawa Reds game.
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Yiembe, who hails from Nakuru, has steadily built his reputation over the past decade, rising through domestic, continental, and international ranks to earn this recognition.
His experience includes officiating in the CAF Champions League semi-finals involving top African clubs like Al Ahly and Mamelodi Sundowns, as well as participating in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
Earlier in the 2025 Club World Cup, Yiembe officiated the Inter Milan vs Urawa Red Diamonds fixture, gaining further exposure in a tournament that brings together the world’s top clubs.
The game against Salzburg is a decisive Group H fixture, with both teams level on four points heading into the final round. Real Madrid hold a slight advantage on goal difference, but the winner will secure a spot in the knockout stages.
The officiating team will be led by Mauritania’s Beida Dahane as centre referee, with Angola’s Jerson Santos as first assistant and China’s Ning Ma as fourth official. Yiembe is notably the only match official from the CECAFA region selected for the tournament — a testament to his consistency and professionalism over the years.
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