2026 FIFA World Cup officials

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The following is a list of match officials (referees, assistant referees, and video assistant referees) who officiated at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. The list also includes the appointments received by each match official.

Match officials walking out prior to the match between Brazil and Morocco on June 13, 2026. Left to right: Andraž Kovačič (Assistant Referee), Sandro Schärer (Fourth Official), Slavko Vinčić (Referee), Tomaž Klančnik (Assistant Referee), Stéphane De Almeida (Reserve Assistant Referee)

Referees and assistant referees

On April 9, 2026, FIFA announced the list of 52 referees, 88 assistant referees, and 30 video assistant referees for the tournament.[1][2] The 2026 tournament featured six female match officials, matching the record for the highest number of female officials appointed to a men's World Cup.[3][4]

Tori Penso (United States) and Katia Itzel García (Mexico) were selected as referees, making them the first female on-field referees from their respective nations to officiate a men's World Cup tournament.[5] They were joined by assistant referees Brooke Mayo (United States), Kathryn Nesbitt (United States), and Sandra Ramírez (Mexico), as well as Tatiana Guzmán (Nicaragua), who served as a video assistant referee.[6] On June 18, 2026, Penso, Mayo, and Nesbitt became the second all-female on-field refereeing trio at a men's World Cup, taking charge of the Group A match between Czechia and South Africa at Atlanta Stadium.[7]

Additionally, Omar Artan from Somalia was originally selected to officiate at the tournament. However, he was removed from the list after being refused entry to the United States at Miami International Airport. Despite holding valid travel documentation, he was declared inadmissible due to "vetting concerns" and alleged "association with suspected members of terror organizations".[8] Artan strongly denied any links to terror groups. Upon his return to Somalia, it was announced that Artan would receive his full World Cup salary despite not being able to officiate in the tournament.[9]

On July 16, 2026, FIFA announced that Slovenian referee Slavko Vinčić would adjudicate the final.[10]

More information Confederation, Referees ...
Confederation Referees Assistant referees Matches assigned Fourth official
AFC Omar Al Ali (United Arab Emirates) Mohamed Al-Hammadi (United Arab Emirates) New Zealand–Egypt (Group G) Turkey–United States (Group D)
South Africa–Canada (Round of 32)
Abdulrahman Al-Jassim (Qatar) Taleb Al-Marri (Qatar)
Saud Al-Maqaleh (Qatar)
Portugal–DR Congo (Group K)
Panama–England (Group L)
Paraguay–France (Round of 16)
Khalid Al-Turais (Saudi Arabia) Mohammed Al-Bakry (Saudi Arabia) Canada–Bosnia and Herzegovina (Group B)
Ivory Coast–Ecuador (Group E)
Ghana–Panama (Group L)
Germany–Ivory Coast (Group E)
Panama–Croatia (Group L)
Senegal–Iraq (Group I)
England–DR Congo (Round of 32)
Alireza Faghani (Australia) George Lakrindis (Australia)
James Lindsay (Australia)
France–Senegal (Group I)
Colombia–Portugal (Group K)
Mexico–England (Round of 16)
Ma Ning (China) Zhou Fei (China) Ecuador–Curaçao (Group E) England–Ghana (Group L)
Norway–France (Group I)
Germany–Paraguay (Round of 32)
Adham Makhadmeh (Jordan) Mohammad Al-Kalaf (Jordan)
Ahmad Al-Roalle (Jordan)
Spain–Cape Verde (Group H)
New Zealand–Belgium (Group G)
England–DR Congo (Round of 32)
United States–Belgium (Round of 16)
Scotland–Morocco (Group C)
Spain–Argentina (Final)
Ilgiz Tantashev (Uzbekistan) Timur Gaynullin [de] (Uzbekistan)
Andrey Tsapenko [de] (Uzbekistan)
Scotland–Morocco (Group C)
Algeria–Austria (Group J)
Paraguay–France (Round of 16)
Yusuke Araki (Japan) Jun Mihara (Japan) United States–Paraguay (Group D)
Iran–New Zealand (Group G)
Switzerland–Bosnia and Herzegovina (Group B)
Belgium–Iran (Group G)
Bosnia and Herzegovina–Qatar (Group B)
Egypt–Iran (Group G)
CAF Pierre Atcho (Gabon) Boris Ditsoga (Gabon)
Amos Abeigne Ndong (Gabon)
Iraq–Norway (Group I)
Panama–Croatia (Group L)
United States–Belgium (Round of 16)
Dahane Beida (Mauritania) Jerson Emiliano dos Santos (Angola)
Elvis Noupue (Cameroon)
Austria–Jordan (Group J) Japan–Sweden (Group F)
Jordan–Argentina (Group J)
Spain–Austria (Round of 32)
Mustapha Ghorbal (Algeria) Mokrane Gourari [de] (Algeria)
Abbes Akram Zerhouni (Algeria)
Haiti–Scotland (Group C)
Turkey–United States (Group D)
Mexico–Ecuador (Round of 32)
Jalal Jayed (Morocco) Zakaria Brinsi (Morocco)
Mostafa Akarkad (Morocco)
Germany–Curaçao (Group E)
Portugal–Uzbekistan (Group K)
Germany–Paraguay (Round of 32)
Mexico–England (Round of 16)
France–England (Match for third place)
Amin Omar (Egypt) Mahmoud Abouregal [ar; de] (Egypt)
Ahmed Hossam Taha (Egypt)
South Korea–Czech Republic (Group A)
Argentina–Austria (Group J)
Iraq–Norway (Group I)
Abongile Tom (South Africa) Zakhele Siwela (South Africa) Germany–Curaçao (Group E)
Portugal–DR Congo (Group K)
Netherlands–Sweden (Group F)
Portugal–Uzbekistan (Group K)
Cape Verde–Saudi Arabia (Group H)
Portugal–Croatia (Round of 32)
CONCACAF Iván Barton (El Salvador) David Morán (El Salvador)
Henry Pupiro (Nicaragua)
Turkey–Paraguay (Group D)
Japan–Sweden (Group F)
Switzerland–Colombia (Round of 16)
France–Spain (Semifinals)
Juan Gabriel Calderón (Costa Rica) Juan Carlos Mora (Costa Rica) South Korea-Czech Republic (Group A)
Sweden–Tunisia (Group F)
Uzbekistan–Colombia (Group K)
Tunisia–Japan (Group F)
Colombia–DR Congo (Group K)
Uruguay–Spain (Group H)
Ismail Elfath (United States) Corey Parker (United States)
Kyle Atkins (United States)
Netherlands–Japan (Group F)
Uruguay–Spain (Group H)
Brazil–Norway (Round of 16)
England–Argentina (Semifinals)
Oshane Nation (Jamaica) Caleb Wales (Trinidad and Tobago) Qatar–Switzerland (Group B)
Austria–Jordan (Group J)
Turkey–Paraguay (Group D)
Jordan–Algeria (Group J)
Paraguay–Australia (Group D)
Drew Fischer (Canada) Lyes Arfa (Canada)
Micheal Barwegen (Canada)
France–Iraq (Group I)
Croatia–Ghana (Group L)
Argentina–Cape Verde (Round of 32)
Saudi Arabia–Uruguay (Group H)
Argentina–Switzerland (Quarterfinals)
Katia Itzel García (Mexico) Sandra Ramírez (Mexico) Tunisia–Netherlands (Group F) Netherlands–Japan (Group F)
England–Croatia (Group L)
United States–Australia (Group D)
Algeria–Austria (Group J)
Argentina–Cape Verde (Round of 32)
Switzerland–Colombia (Round of 16)
Saíd Martínez (Honduras) Walter López (Honduras)
Christian Ramírez (Honduras)
Qatar–Switzerland (Group B)
England–Ghana (Group L)
Belgium–Senegal (Round of 32)
Colombia–Portugal (Group K)
Brazil–Norway (Round of 16)
Tori Penso (United States) Kathryn Nesbitt (United States)
Brooke Mayo (United States)
Czech Republic–South Africa (Group A)
Ecuador–Germany (Group E)
Uruguay–Cape Verde (Group H)
France–Sweden (Round of 32)
César Arturo Ramos (Mexico) Alberto Morín (Mexico)
Marco Bisguerra (Mexico)
Iran–New Zealand (Group G)
Scotland–Brazil (Group C)
CONMEBOL Ramon Abatti (Brazil) Rafael Alves (Brazil)
Danilo Manis (Brazil)
Belgium–Egypt (Group G)
Switzerland–Canada (Group B)
Spain–Belgium (Quarterfinals)
Juan Gabriel Benítez (Paraguay) Eduardo Cardozo (Paraguay)
Milcíades Saldívar (Paraguay)
Germany–Ivory Coast (Group E) Mexico–South Africa (Group A)
Tunisia–Netherlands (Group F)
Ivory Coast–Norway (Round of 32)
Raphael Claus (Brazil) Rodrigo Figueiredo (Brazil) Spain–Saudi Arabia (Group H)
United States–Bosnia and Herzegovina (Round of 32)
Yael Falcón (Argentina) Maximiliano Del Yesso (Argentina)
Facundo Rodríguez (Argentina)
Sweden–Tunisia (Group F)
Czech Republic–Mexico (Group A)
Switzerland–Algeria (Round of 32)
Cristián Garay (Chile) José Retamal (Chile)
Miguel Rocha (Chile)
Canada–Qatar (Group B) Czech Republic–Mexico (Group A)
Netherlands–Morocco (Round of 32)
Darío Herrera (Argentina) Cristian Navarro (Argentina) Belgium–Iran (Group G) United States–Bosnia and Herzegovina (Round of 32)
France–Morocco (Quarterfinals)
Kevin Ortega (Peru) Michael Orué (Peru) Australia–Turkey (Group D)
Belgium–Egypt (Group G)
Canada–Qatar (Group B)
New Zealand–Egypt (Group G)
Switzerland–Canada (Group B)
New Zealand–Belgium (Group G)
Switzerland–Algeria (Round of 32)
Andrés Rojas (Colombia) Alexander Guzmán (Colombia) Spain–Cape Verde (Group H)
Mexico–South Korea (Group A)
Spain–Saudi Arabia (Group H)
South Africa–South Korea (Group A)
Belgium–Senegal (Round of 32)
Wilton Sampaio (Brazil) Bruno Boschilia (Brazil)
Bruno Pires (Brazil)
Mexico–South Africa (Group A)
Norway–Senegal (Group I)
Netherlands–Morocco (Round of 32)
Gustavo Tejera (Uruguay) Nicolás Tarán (Uruguay)
Carlos Barreiro (Uruguay)
Mexico–South Korea (Group A)
Australia–Egypt (Round of 32)
Facundo Tello (Argentina) Juan Pablo Belatti (Argentina)
Gabriel Chade (Argentina)
Canada–Bosnia and Herzegovina (Group B)
South Africa–South Korea (Group A)
France–Morocco (Quarterfinals)
Jesús Valenzuela (Venezuela) Jorge Urrego (Venezuela)
Tulio Moreno (Venezuela)
Australia–Turkey (Group D)
Bosnia and Herzegovina–Qatar (Group B)
Ivory Coast–Norway (Round of 32)
France–England (Match for third place)
OFC Campbell-Kirk Kawana-Waugh (New Zealand) Isaac Trevis (New Zealand) Argentina–Algeria (Group J)
Czech Republic–South Africa (Group A)
Ecuador–Curaçao (Group E)
Norway–Senegal (Group I)
Ecuador–Germany (Group E)
Croatia–Ghana (Group L)
UEFA Espen Eskås (Norway) Jan Erik Engan (Norway)
Isaak Bashevkin (Norway)
Uruguay–Cape Verde (Group H)
Portugal–Croatia (Round of 32)
Scotland–Brazil (Group C)
Argentina–Egypt (Round of 16)
Alejandro Hernández Hernández (Spain) José Enrique Naranjo Pérez (Spain)
Diego Sánchez Rojo [gl] (Spain)
Brazil–Haiti (Group C) Haiti–Scotland (Group C)
Argentina–Austria (Group J)
DR Congo–Uzbekistan (Group K)
Colombia–Ghana (Round of 32)
Norway–England (Quarterfinals)
István Kovács (Romania) Mihai Marius Marica (Romania)
Ferencz Tunyogi (Romania)
Tunisia–Japan (Group F)
Jordan–Argentina (Group J)
François Letexier (France) Cyril Mugnier (France)
Mehdi Rahmouni (France)
Ivory Coast–Ecuador (Group E)
Cape Verde–Saudi Arabia (Group H)
Argentina–Egypt (Round of 16)
Danny Makkelie (Netherlands) Hessel Steegstra (Netherlands)
Jan de Vries [simple] (Netherlands)
United States–Paraguay (Group D)
Morocco–Haiti (Group C)
France–Sweden (Round of 32)
Canada–Morocco (Round of 16)
Szymon Marciniak (Poland) Tomasz Listkiewicz (Poland)
Adam Kupsik (Poland)
Argentina–Algeria (Group J)
Egypt–Iran (Group G)
Maurizio Mariani (Italy) Daniele Bindoni (Italy)
Alberto Tegoni (Italy)
Saudi Arabia–Uruguay (Group H)
Colombia–DR Congo (Group K)
Brazil–Japan (Round of 32)

England–Argentina (Semifinals)
Glenn Nyberg (Sweden) Mahbod Beigi (Sweden)
Andreas Söderkvist (Sweden)
Ghana–Panama (Group L)
Curaçao–Ivory Coast (Group E)
Spain–Austria (Round of 32)
France–Spain (Semifinals)
Michael Oliver (England) Stuart Burt (England)
James Mainwaring (England)
Netherlands–Sweden (Group F)[A]
Norway–France (Group I)
Canada–Morocco (Round of 16)
Spain–Belgium (Quarterfinals)
João Pinheiro (Portugal) Bruno Jesus (Portugal)
Luciano Maia (Portugal)
Switzerland–Bosnia and Herzegovina (Group B)
South Africa–Canada (Round of 32)
Argentina–Switzerland (Quarterfinals)
Morocco–Haiti (Group C)
Sandro Schärer (Switzerland) Stéphane De Almeida (Switzerland) Brazil–Morocco (Group C)
France–Senegal (Group I)
Brazil–Haiti (Group C)
France–Iraq (Group I)
Curaçao–Ivory Coast (Group E)
Panama–England (Group L)
Brazil–Japan (Round of 32)
Australia–Egypt (Round of 32)
Anthony Taylor (England) Gary Beswick (England)
Adam Nunn (England)
Uzbekistan–Colombia (Group K)
Senegal–Iraq (Group I)
Portugal–Spain (Round of 16)
Clément Turpin (France) Nicolas Danos (France)
Benjamin Pagès (France)
England–Croatia (Group L)
Paraguay–Australia (Group D)
Colombia–Ghana (Round of 32)
Norway–England (Quarterfinals)
Slavko Vinčić (Slovenia) Tomaž Klančnik (Slovenia)
Andraž Kovačič (Slovenia)
Brazil–Morocco (Group C)
Jordan–Algeria (Group J)
Mexico–Ecuador (Round of 32)
Spain–Argentina (Final)
Felix Zwayer (Germany) Robert Kempter [de] (Germany)
Christian Dietz [de] (Germany)
United States–Australia (Group D)
DR Congo–Uzbekistan (Group K)
Portugal–Spain (Round of 16)
Close

Video assistant referees

On May 7, 2026, Willy Delajod was chosen as a last-minute addition to the video match official team. On May 15, Delajod's additional was confirmed as a replacement of Dutch VAR Rob Dieperink, who was abruptly dropped by FIFA following his arrest in England.[12][13]

Notes

  1. Michael Oliver was originally appointed to the Ivory Coast vs Ecuador match but he pulled out due to a minor injury.[11]

References

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