The Officials Selected for Soccer’s Biggest Tournament in 2026
As the world's largest international soccer tournament kicks off across North America in 2026, the spotlight will shine not only on the players but also on the elite match officials entrusted with managing the game's biggest moments. Referees are selected through years of international experience, fitness testing, performance evaluations, and consistent excellence at the professional level. For many officials, receiving an appointment to this tournament represents the pinnacle of their careers. FIFA selected 52 referees from 50 member associations, making this the largest group of match officials ever assigned to a World Cup tournament.
The referee roster reflects the truly global nature of the game. Officials were chosen from every confederation, including Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, South America, and Oceania. Veteran referees such as Szymon Marciniak (Poland), Michael Oliver (England), Anthony Taylor (England), Wilton Sampaio (Brazil), Ismail Elfath (United States), Tori Penso (United States), Alireza Faghani (Australia), Ma Ning (China), Abdulrahman Al-Jassim (Qatar), and many others earned appointments after years of officiating at the highest levels of international competition.
Among the selected referees are officials representing countries from every corner of the globe. The list includes representatives from Australia, China, Japan, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Algeria, Egypt, Gabon, Mauritania, Morocco, Senegal, Somalia, United States, Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, Honduras, Guatemala, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Paraguay, Uruguay, Venezuela, Italy, France, Germany, Spain, Poland, England, Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Sweden, Hungary, and New Zealand, among others. This worldwide representation ensures that the best officiating talent is present for the tournament's 104 matches.
Technology will also play a major role in supporting on-field decisions. Video Assistant Referees (VARs) and Assistant VARs will work alongside the referees to review goals, penalty incidents, direct red cards, and cases of mistaken identity. The expanded tournament format has led to an increased number of officials assigned to video operations, helping maintain consistency and accuracy throughout the competition.
For officials at every level, the 2026 tournament serves as a reminder that excellence in officiating requires dedication, preparation, and continuous improvement. Whether you're working youth soccer, high school athletics, college competition, or professional sports, the officials selected for the world's biggest soccer stage demonstrate what can be achieved through hard work and commitment to the craft. Their journeys inspire the next generation of referees and umpires across all sports.
2026 Tournament Referees by Country
AFC (Asia)
- Omar Al Ali — United Arab Emirates
- Abdulrahman Al-Jassim — Qatar
- Khalid Al-Turais — Saudi Arabia
- Alireza Faghani — Australia
- Ma Ning — China
- Adham Makhadmeh — Jordan
- Ilgiz Tantashev — Uzbekistan
- Yusuke Araki — Japan
CAF (Africa)
- Omar Abdulkadir Artan — Somalia
- Pierre Atcho — Gabon
- Mustapha Ghorbal — Algeria
- Amin Omar — Egypt
- Dahane Beida — Mauritania
- Jalal Jayed — Morocco
- Issa Sy — Senegal
- Jean Jacques Ndala — DR Congo
CONCACAF (North America, Central America & Caribbean)
- Ismail Elfath — United States
- Tori Penso — United States
- Drew Fischer — Canada
- César Ramos — Mexico
- Katia García — Mexico
- Juan Gabriel Calderón — Costa Rica
- Walter López — Guatemala
- Said Martínez — Honduras
CONMEBOL (South America)
- Wilton Sampaio — Brazil
- Raphael Claus — Brazil
- Facundo Tello — Argentina
- Yael Falcón Pérez — Argentina
- Andrés Matonte — Uruguay
- Juan Benítez — Paraguay
- Piero Maza — Chile
- Jesús Valenzuela — Venezuela
- Andrés Rojas — Colombia
UEFA (Europe)
- Szymon Marciniak — Poland
- Michael Oliver — England
- Anthony Taylor — England
- François Letexier — France
- Clément Turpin — France
- Maurizio Mariani — Italy
- Daniele Orsato — Italy
- Danny Makkelie — Netherlands
- João Pinheiro — Portugal
- István Kovács — Romania
- Slavko Vinčić — Slovenia
- Glenn Nyberg — Sweden
- Felix Zwayer — Germany
- Daniel Siebert — Germany
- José María Sánchez — Spain
OFC (Oceania)
- Campbell-Kirk Kawana-Waugh — New Zealand
The 2026 tournament will feature the largest group of referees ever assembled for a World Cup, reflecting both the expansion of the competition and the growing importance of elite officiating in the modern game.