During the 2010 FIFA Club World Cup, Kuipers was appointed to referee the semi-final match between Mazembe and Internacional at the Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on 14 December 2010. Kuipers officiated in the first major European final of his career when he oversaw the 2011 UEFA Super Cup match between Barcelona and Porto at the Stade Louis II in Monaco on 26 August 2011.