FIFA unveiled its match officials for the 2026 World Cup on April 9. The governing body appointed 52 referees, 88 assistant referees and 30 video match officials. The selections covered all six confederations and 50 member associations.
Pierluigi Collina, FIFA’s chief of refereeing, led the process. FIFA evaluated candidates for more than three years. The organisation selected the group based on quality and consistency at the highest international level. Collina called the squad the largest in World Cup history.
The 48-team tournament will stage 104 matches across the United States, Canada and Mexico. Officials prepared for the increased workload through targeted training programmes.
FIFA included six women among the match officials. Collina explained the decision. He said the fact that six women match officials had been selected continued a trend started four years ago in Qatar as FIFA aimed to further develop women’s refereeing.
The inclusion marked progress since the 2022 tournament. Women officials will take on refereeing, assistant and video roles during the competition.
Officials represented every continent. The broad selection promoted fairness and experience across regions. FIFA will monitor performances closely during the tournament. The chosen referees and assistants now enter final preparation phases ahead of the June 2026 kick-off.
