{{short description|Sudanese football referee}} {{for|the Egyptian actor and filmmaker|Mahmoud Ismail}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2026}} {{Infobox football official | name = Mahmood Ismail | image = | caption = | fullname = | birth_date = {{Birth based on age as of date|37|2025|10|17}} | birth_place = Sudan | death_date = | death_place = | otheroccupation = | years1 = ??–present | league1 = Sudan Premier League | role1 = Referee | years2 = | league2 = | role2 = | internationalyears1 = 2015–present | confederation1 = FIFA listed | internationalrole1 = Referee }} '''Mahmood Ismail''' ({{langx|ar|محمود إسماعيل}}; born 1987 or 1988) is a Sudanese football referee, who is a FIFA-listed international referee since 2015.
== Career == Ismail was born in Sudan in 1987 or 1988<ref name="onefootball"/> and has become a prominent referee within the Confederation of African Football (CAF) since his promotion to international status by FIFA in 2015.<ref name="intlfifa">{{cite news |title=Sudan Football Association {{!}} International match officials |url=https://inside.fifa.com/en/associations/SDN/referees |access-date=20 January 2026 |work=Inside FIFA |date=1 January 2026}}</ref><ref name="onefootball"/>
He has led important matches at club level in CAF tournaments, including the first leg final of the 2023 African Football League between Wydad AC and Mamelodi Sundowns F.C. in Casablanca and the first leg final of the 2024–25 CAF Champions League between Mameladi Sundowns F.C. and Pyramids FC at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria.<ref name="africasoccer">{{cite news |last1=Boateng |first1=Elias |title=Sudanese referee Mahmoud Ismail takes center stage in CAF Champions League final opener |url=https://africasoccer.com/sudanese-referee-mahmoud-ismail-takes-center-stage-in-caf-champions-league-final-opener/ |access-date=20 January 2026 |work=Africa Soccer |date=24 May 2025}}</ref> In October 2025, Ismail oversaw the single game of the 2025 CAF Super Cup between Pyramids FC and RS Berkane in Cairo.<ref name="onefootball">{{cite news |title=African Super Cup final: Who is Mahmood Ismail, referee for Pyramids vs RS Berkane? |url=https://onefootball.com/en/news/african-super-cup-final-who-is-mahmood-ismail-referee-for-pyramids-vs-rs-berkane-41816543 |access-date=20 January 2026 |work=OneFootball |date=17 October 2025}}</ref>
Within CAF, Ismail has also refereed national team matches, including at two Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). In the 2023 edition, he was appointed for the group stage match between Equatorial Guinea and the Ivory Coast,<ref>{{cite news |title=Eq. Guinea v. Ivory Coast |url=https://www.espn.co.uk/football/match/_/gameId/689276/ivory-coast-equatorial-guinea |access-date=20 January 2026 |work=ESPN |date=22 January 2024}}</ref> the game of Senegal v. Cameroon,<ref name="erraji"/> and the Round of 16 match between Morocco and South Africa.<ref name="erraji">{{cite news |last1=Erraji |first1=Abdellah |title=AFCON: Sudanese Referee to Officiate Morocco-South Africa Game |url=https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2024/01/23960/afcon-sudanese-referee-to-officiate-morocco-south-africa-game/ |access-date=20 January 2026 |work=Morocco World News |date=28 January 2024}}</ref> His second AFCON was the 2025 edition in Morocco, where he led the group stage game between South Africa and Angola and the round of 16 match of the Ivory Coast v. Burkina Faso.<ref>{{cite news |title=South Africa v. Angola |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/match/_/gameId/732136/angola-south-africa |access-date=20 January 2026 |work=ESPN |date=22 December 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Stevens |first1=Rob |title=Ivory Coast v. Burkina Faso |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/live/cr574r9jmvjt |access-date=20 January 2026 |work=BBC Sport |date=6 January 2026}}</ref> Other confederation competitions include the 2022 African Nations Championship, where he led the game between Mozambique and Algeria.<ref name="onefootball"/>
In other international competitions, Ismail officiates in CAF qualification for the FIFA World Cup, overseeing games in the CAF qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.<ref name="onefootball"/> Ismail is an Olympics referee too, having refereed group stage matches between Iraq and Ukraine and the Dominican Republic and Uzbekistan at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.<ref>{{cite news |title=Iraq U23 v Ukraine U23 |url=https://www.espn.co.uk/football/match/_/gameId/699806/ukraine-u23-iraq-u23 |access-date=20 January 2026 |work=ESPN |date=24 July 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Olympics 2024: Ukraine football team starts with a defeat against Iraq |url=https://uaf.ua/en/article/51886 |access-date=20 January 2026 |work=UAF News |date=24 July 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Dominican Republic U23 v. Uzbekistan U23 |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/dominican-republic-u23-vs-uzbekistan-u23/teams/503974 |access-date=20 January 2026 |work=Sky Sports |date=30 July 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=República Dominicana avanza 1 a 0 ante Uzbekistán en el estadio el Parque de los Príncipes |url=https://www.directvsports.com/futbol/Republica-Dominicana-avanza-1-a-0-ante-Uzbekistan-en-el-estadio-el-Parque-de-los-Principes-20240727-0016.html |access-date=20 January 2026 |work=DSPORTS |date=30 July 2024 |language=es}}</ref>
Ismail is known for his disciplinary approach during matches, showing readiness to issue yellow and red cards to sanction players. As of October 2025, he had a record of 120 cards shown in 40 international matches.<ref name="onefootball"/> He is usually assisted by Sudanese assistant referee Mohamed Abdallah and Ahmed Abdelrazik of Djibouti.<ref name="africasoccer"/>
== Selected record == {| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto 1em auto; text-align:center; font-size:small;" ! colspan="4" | 2023 Africa Cup of Nations |- ! Date !! Match !! Venue !! Round |- | 19 January 2024 || {{fb|SEN}} '''3–1''' {{fb|CMR}} || Charles Konan Banny Stadium || Group stage |- | 22 January 2024 || {{fb|EQG}} '''4–0''' {{fb|CIV}} || Alassane Ouattara Stadium || Group stage |- | 30 January 2024|| {{fb|MAR}} '''0–2''' {{fb|RSA}} || Laurent Pokou Stadium || Round of 16 |- ! colspan="4" | 2024 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament |- ! Date !! Match !! Venue !! Round |- | 24 July 2024 || {{fb|IRQ}} '''2–1''' {{fb|UKR}} || Parc Olympique Lyonnais || Group stage |- | 30 July 2024 || {{fb|DOM}} '''1–1''' {{fb|UZB}} || Parc des Princes || Group stage |- ! colspan="4" | 2025 Africa Cup of Nations |- ! Date !! Match !! Venue !! Round |- | 22 December 2025 || {{fb|RSA}} '''2–1''' {{fb|ANG}} || Marrakesh Stadium || Group stage |- | 6 January 2026 || {{fb|CIV}} '''3–0''' {{fb|BUR}} || Marrakesh Stadium || Round of 16 |- |}
== References == {{Reflist}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ismail, Mahmood}} Category:1980s births Category:Living people Category:Sudanese football referees Category:Olympic football referees Category:Africa Cup of Nations referees Category:Football referees at the 2024 Summer Olympics