The report says Ghorbal has been -listed since 2014, with tournament experience at the 2019, 2022, 2024 and 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. He also reportedly refereed two group matches at the 2022 World Cup before serving as a fourth official for two last-16 ties.
That background gives Scotland’s opening match an official accustomed to intense scrutiny. The report credits Ghorbal with handling nine Ligue 1 matches in 2025-26, issuing no straight red cards while showing two second-yellow dismissals. His wider record is described as one combining regular disciplinary control with a willingness to punish repeated offences.
The report says Ghorbal’s recent profile was shaped by a disputed African Champions League semi-final decision. He ruled out an Esperance Tunis goal for a foul on the Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper, with VAR confirming the call.
Sundowns reportedly won the first leg 1-0, and the officials later required a police escort as supporters threw bottles. That incident does not define Ghorbal’s career, but it will ensure every major decision against Haiti or Scotland receives close attention.
For Scotland, the priority will be avoiding emotional reactions. A World Cup opener can quickly become fragmented when players surround the referee, particularly if an early VAR review changes the match’s direction.
The reported officiating team includes Algerian assistants Mokrane Gourari and Abbes Akram Zerhouni. Spain’s José Enrique Naranjo is listed as VAR, with fellow Spaniard Alejandro Hernández named fourth official.
That combination gives the match a cross-border team with significant tournament exposure, but VAR remains central after the controversy attached to Ghorbal’s recent assignment.
Scotland’s next storyline will be whether Steve Clarke’s side can keep the contest on sporting terms and turn a high-pressure opener into a platform for the matches against Brazil and Morocco.