To be asked to referee at the world’s biggest sporting competition is a dream come true for a football official.

FIFA assembles the very best for the job and selects a certain number of highly-regarded officials from across the confederations: UEFA, CONMEBOL, CONCACAF, AFC, CAF and OFC.

On top of that, for the 2026 World Cup, there are assistant referees and 30 video assistant referees, making this the largest refereeing operation in the tournament’s history, built to cover 104 matches.

Here’s the full breakdown of how it all works; which referees are at the tournament, where they are from, who are the big names and how FIFA decides who refs the final.

World Cup 2026 Referees

REUTERS/Mike Segar

Football fans may know certain individuals from this list. However, due to referees typically playing a secondary role, most will likely only be able to recognise their faces when they see them.

It is important to note the highest-ranking referees. For example, Szymon Marciniak took charge of the 2022 final between Argentina and France and is seen as the most decorated at the tournament.

Of course, Michael Oliver and Anthony Taylor are well-known to Premier League fans. The most recent international final, Euro 2024, was refereed by François Letexier.

Other notable finals include Romania’s István Kovács who took charge of the 2025 Champions League final, and Brazil’s Raphael Claus who oversaw the 2024 Copa América final. It resembles somewhat of an all-star officiating team.

How are Referees Chosen?

IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Vincent Carchietta

One key question is how are the above referees selected? It stands to reason that you would need to be a top official, experienced on the biggest stage at European finals and top leagues, as well as in international football.

That is true, but candidates have to prove their ability to work alongside the same assistant and VAR teams, as officiating trios are more likely to be picked rather than individuals. Quality first is certainly the mandate for FIFA.

They also have to attend regular seminars and fitness testing and the final list is whittled down and built to withstand elite-level pressure rather than reputation alone.

One fundamental rule is no official can take charge of a match involving their own country, removing any possible conflict of interest. Plus, prior to the tournament beginning, selected referees also completed a preparatory camp, which was a ten-day seminar based in Miami.

Who Will Referee the Final?

As it stands, the referee has not been selected. That is by FIFA’s design, as it doesn’t publish a shortlist for the final — or any knockout match because those are only confirmed a few days before kick-off.

This is based off their performances across the tournament. Typically, the final tends to go to whichever referee has been the most consistent in the eyes of FIFA. That includes correct big-match calls, game management, VAR handling and strong positioning.

The standard rule applies in terms of neutrality. A referee can never oversee a match involving their own nation and the final is no different. Although, it would be naive to suggest that reputation has nothing to do with it.

After all, it is the biggest game in football. It stands to reason that having someone with prior experience of the most high-pressure environment would be a smart move. Marciniak took control of the 2022 final and could do so again, but there is no guarantee. The referee committee will make the call once the semi-finals are complete.

As the 2026 World Cup continues to roll on, the games just seem to keep growing in drama and excitement. This was very much the case for Norway, as they knocked Brazil out with an impressive 2-1 victory.

Both teams had chances to go ahead, but star striker Erling Haaland proved his quality as he broke the deadlock in the second half and then made it 2-0 in the 90th minute. Neymar would score a late penalty, but – perhaps not helped by his confrontation with Norway goalkeeper Orjan Nyland – this proved to be little more than a consolation.

Although England weren’t involved, a number of Premier League stars were on display, with Arsenal trio Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Magalhaes and Gabriel Martinelli all starting. Covering the match for ITV, pundit Gary Neville was particularly animated about one of these players.

Gary Neville Slams Premier League Winner

So much of the build-up before the game focused on Norway striker Haaland and Brazil defender Gabriel. The Premier League pair have clashed many times during games between Manchester City and Arsenal, and they came together once more in this World Cup encounter.

Although Gabriel largely defended well, the turning point in the game came when Haaland beat him in the air to head home Norway’s opener. Despite coming at the game from the position of a neutral pundit, former England right-back Neville was particularly animated as he commented on the incident.

Speaking on ITV, he criticised the defender from Brazil’s key man, claiming that he was ‘fuming’ with Gabriel. He first praised Haaland, noting: “He’s a massive character, a personality, and sometimes it’s said about these players that he never did it on the world stage – and that’s now been removed. I’m absolutely delighted for him.”

Before then, slamming Arsenal’s Gabriel for not winning the duel:

He added: “But he’s the best at that Haaland. Once he gets a run on you and he jumps, you’ve no chance, you’re dead. And it’s a brilliant header.”

Roy Keane agreed with the comments, claiming: “Poor defending, he’s not looking over his shoulder, he’s got a run on him, ball into a good area and there’s only going to be one winner.” While Ian Wright also felt the same way, as he said: “I can’t disagree with you on Gabriel. What I’m surprised with is that he didn’t look at him once.”

Reuters/Caean Couto

Although fellow pundits Keane and Wright agreed with Neville, fans online were not happy with the comments. In particular, they seemed baffled as to why the former Manchester United defender was so angry, ‘fuming’ even, about Gabriel despite not having any particular reason to be emotionally invested in the Norway vs Brazil meeting.

One fan highlighted their confusion, taking to social media to write: “Neville: ‘I’m fuming with Gabriel for the goal.’

“Like, why? why are you angry at Gabriel? Such a weird discourse around Arsenal players. It’s a good goal by Haaland, it’s good movement and he does Gabriel. It’s not that deep. Why would a random english bloke be angry lol.”

Replying to the message, another wrote: “Yep. Weird man.” While a third added: “The second he had a chance he went in on the Arsenal player.”

Someone else pointed out: “It’s literally Haaland as well. Talking like he got beat by some scrub when it’s literally the top 1 out and out striker in world football.” While another added: “As a full back, he’s crazy to not talk about the cross.”

A final supporter summed up the feeling among Gooners, as they wrote: “Any time he gets to hate on an Arsenal player he will do……”

When Cristiano Ronaldo steps onto a football pitch, expect him to stand out.

And one thing that has stood out, besides the Portuguese star’s consistency on the pitch, is his fondness for long sleeves. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner has played in contrasting climates, from the cold of Manchester to the unforgiving cauldron of Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu, but the long sleeves have stood the test of time.

But what is the reason behind CR7’s enduring style choice?

Why Cristiano Ronaldo Wears Long Sleeves

REUTERS/Jeenah Moon

Whilst Ronaldo has never provided an explanation for his sartorial sporting choice, there are a number of hypothetical reasons that could provide an answer.

Firstly, Ronaldo has played predominantly in Europe, having represented Sporting Lisbon, Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus across the continent. The European winters can be brutal, even in countries that tend to have higher temperatures throughout the year.

Ronaldo spent the early years of his career in the United Kingdom, building his reputation under Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United. The contrast in temperature between Portugal and England is significant. Perhaps Ronaldo adopted his long sleeves as a defence against the cold, becoming a subconscious habit of his youth that he never discarded.

It should be noted that Ronaldo has continued to wear long sleeves in the hottest locations he has played in too. CR7 sported long sleeves during his tenure at Real Madrid, regardless of the time of year. He also notably maintained a longer sleeve during a Euro 2020 match in the United Kingdom. England is well known for its humid summers, but the heat still wasn’t enough to force the Portuguese attacker into a short-sleeve shirt on this occasion.

Does Cristiano Ronaldo Ever Wear Short Sleeves?

Tony O’Brien Livepic (Action Images via Reuters)

Despite becoming a signature part of his look, Cristiano has on occasion dispensed with the long sleeves.

During Euro 2020, Ronaldo did change his shirt during a fixture in Munich. Starting the game against Germany in long sleeves, the former Real Madrid star changed into a short-sleeve shirt for the second half.

But maybe Ronaldo should’ve kept his long-sleeve shirt on. After scoring in the first half, Ronaldo failed to have the same impact in short sleeves in the second half as Portugal went on to lose 2-4. However, fans might want to forgive the attacker for his wardrobe change as temperatures exceeded 30 degrees Celsius during the group stage game.

The fact that Ronaldo has predominantly worn long sleeves during the latter stages of his career may be a case of superstition. The Portugal star donned short sleeves for his country’s Euro 2004 and World Cup 2006 campaigns, which both ended in tears for CR7. Ronaldo was, however, in long sleeves for his country’s Euro 2016 triumph, suggesting that they may be his good luck charm.

But beyond superstition or weather conditions, it could simply be a case of brand. Ronaldo’s image as a football superstar has been built around a specific iconography. The prolific forward has built a signature style that extends beyond the football pitch and the long sleeves may just be another contribution to his distinct image.