FIFA has on Thursday confirmed the final list of match officials that will take charge of games at the forthcoming FIFA World Cup.
The list 52 Centre referees, 88 Assistant referees and 30 Video Assistent referees, coming from six confederations that make up FIFA.
One of the biggest exclusions especially for Africa’s context is Congolese referee Jean Jacques Ndala.
Ndala was at the centre of controversy for the events that happened in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final between Morocco and Senegal.
Despite, the aforementioned incidents, CAF had maintained him on the list of referees submitted for consideration to officiate at the World Cup.
Africa will have seven Centre referees namely; Pierre Atcho from Gabon, Dahane Beida (Mauritania), Mustapha Ghorbal (Algeria), Jalal Jayed (Morocco), Amin Mohammed (Egypt) and Tom Abongile (South Africa).
The assistant referees include Amos Abeigne (Gabon), Mahmoud Abouelregal (Egypt), Mostafa Akarkad (Morocco), Zakaria Brinsi (Morocco), Boris Ditsoga (Gabon), Mokrane Gourari (Algeria), Ahmed Taha Hossam (Egypt), Santos Jerson (Angola)
Mahmoud Ashour (Egypt) and Hamza El Fariq (Morocco) have been listen among the Video Assistant Referees.
The FIFA World Cup will be staged in Canada, USA and Mexico between 11th June to 19th July 2026.
“The selected match officials are the very best in the world. They were part of a wider pool of officials that was identified and monitored over the past three years. They have attended seminars and officiated at FIFA tournaments.In addition, their performances in domestic and international matches were regularly assessed. The selected officials have received, and will continue to receive, comprehensive support from our fitness coaches and medical staff, including physiotherapists and a mental specialist. Our goal is to ensure that they’re in optimal physical and mental condition when they arrive in Miami on 31 May.” Reads a statement from Pierluigi Collina, FIFA’s Chief Refereeing Officer and chairman of the FIFA Referees Committee,
Full List of Referees
