FIFA has officially announced the match officials for the 2026 World Cup, ready for the unprecendted scale of the upcoming 48-team tournament.
A total of 170 officials, including 52 referees, 88 assistant referees, and 30 video match officials, have been selected from all six global confederations. The selection follows a three-year scouting process centred on a quality-first principle.
With the tournament expanding to 104 matches across three host nations, FIFA’s Chief Refereeing Officer Pierluigi Collina emphasised the need for the expanded squad, which features 41 more officials from Qatar 2022.
“The selected match officials are the very best in the world,” Collina stated. “Our goal is to ensure they are in optimal physical and mental condition when they arrive.”
The roster also confirms a continued commitment to diversity, with six female officials selected to officiate the men’s event.
In a move set to improve the viewing experience, FIFA will introduce AI-powered body cameras. This technology will allow fans to see the game from the referee’s perspective, with software used to ensure a smooth broadcast.
Officials will also be tasked with enforcing new IFAB mandates to increase match tempo and significantly reduce time-wasting.
The officiating squad will meet in Miami on May 31 for a ten-day camp. While the on-field officials will remain based in Florida, the VAR team will move to the International Broadcast Centre in Dallas.
Massimo Busacca, FIFA’s Director of Refereeing, added to Collina’s comments, stating, “All candidates have been closely evaluated by instructors and medical staff to ensure they achieve the highest possible standards for this groundbreaking competition,”.
