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World Cup 2026 Referees: Full List of Officials

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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

Croatia vs Portugal referee REUTERS/Mike Segar

Referee

Nation

Confederation

Szymon Marciniak

Poland

UEFA

Michael Oliver

England

UEFA

Anthony Taylor

England

UEFA

François Letexier

France

UEFA

Danny Makkelie

Netherlands

UEFA

Slavko Vinčić

Slovenia

UEFA

István Kovács

Romania

UEFA

Raphael Claus

Brazil

CONMEBOL

Wilton Sampaio

Brazil

CONMEBOL

Facundo Tello

Argentina

CONMEBOL

Kevin Ortega

Peru

CONMEBOL

Ismail Elfath

United States

CONCACAF

César Arturo Ramos

Mexico

CONCACAF

Iván Barton

El Salvador

CONCACAF

Alireza Faghani

Australia

AFC

Ma Ning

China

AFC

Amin Mohamed Omar

Egypt

CAF

Campbell-Kirk Kawana-Waugh

New Zealand

OFC

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?

France's Kylian Mbappe remonstrates with referee Alireza Faghani 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.


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Who Will Referee the Final?

Referee Horacio Elizondo (C) of Argentina shows France's Zinedine Zidane (L) a red card next to Italy's Gennaro Gattuso during their World Cup 2006 final soccer match

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.

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Man Utd Hold Talks to Seal £100m Double Deal for Tyler Adams and Andrey Santos

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Manchester United are stepping up their interest in strengthening their midfield options this summer, with Jason Wilcox leading the charge.

The Red Devils missed out on top targets Elliot Anderson and Mateus Fernandes this summer, with the Englishman moving to Man City for £116m, while the Portuguese star joined Tottenham Hotspur for £85m too, after United refused to match those prices.

That has led the club to begin looking at potential alternative options, and it has now emerged that they are in talks about a £100m double deal for MIchael Carrick’s side.

Man Utd In Talks for £100m Double Midfield Signing

andrey santos

According to TEAMtalk, Man Utd are eyeing up a deal to sign Chelsea star Andrey Santos this summer after missing out on Fernandes and Anderson.

The Brazil international enjoyed a phenomenal season on loan with Strasbourg in 2024/25, but struggled for regular first-team minutes at Chelsea last season as he found himself behind Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez and even Reece James in the midfield pecking order.

United have held talks with the player’s reps about a potential move to Old Trafford, and it’s understood that Chelsea are open to allowing him to leave for a fee of around £50m.

Alongside Santos, though, Man Utd are also eyeing another midfielder signing, and it has emerged that Bournemouth star Tyler Adams has emerged as a serious target for the club.

The American was brought up in talks between the clubs as United expressed an interest in Alex Scott, and have been informed that the Cherries would be open to a sale for around £50m.

United like his leadership and defensive qualities, and their data-led approach has seen him figure high up on their shortlist of targets.

England World Cup Quiz

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Man Utd Targets Are Underwhelming

Tyler Adams

United have made it abundantly clear that they want to rebuild their midfield this summer, and that has led to inflated prices when it comes to them finding targets.

Santos is top young talent who has been on the shortlist at Old Trafford for a while, and with Ederson already arriving too, despite reports the deal has collapsed, there is plenty of defensive quality there.

That should see the next midfield signing be on the more offensive side of things, but Adams would be adding even more defensive qualities to a side that needs to be able to progress play forward and have cover for Kobbie Mainoo.

Fans are underwhelmed by the latest round of links after missing out on their top targets, and it makes sense. United must find a way to get the right deals over the line, not just any midfield signings, if they want to get back to competing at the top level.


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Tottenham Offered Chance to Sign Dusan Vlahovic

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Tottenham Hotspur have been offered the chance to sign a top star this summer alongside their pursuit of Bournemouth star Eli Junior Kroupi.

Spurs have completed six signings already this summer, bringing in Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi, Martin Dubravka, Jan Paul van Hecke, Mateus Fernandes, and Sandro Tonali in deals worth in excess of £220m.

But the Lilywhites are still looking at other deals, with a mega offer being lined up to sign Kroupi despite Bournemouth not wanting to sell. However, the north London side are now looking at other forward options, which has seen them offered the chance to sign a household name.

Tottenham Offered Dusan Vlahovic

Dusan Vlahovic sitting on the bench for Juventus

According to TEAMtalk, Tottenham have been offered the chance to sign former Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic on a free transfer.

Vlahovic, who has been described as ‘one of the best strikers in the world’, recently left the Serie A giants after his contract expired, and is now searching for a new club, ideally in the Premier League.

The 26-year-old is attracting big interest from Turkish giants Besiktas, but Spurs are understood to be keeping a close eye on the situation as they assess their own forward options for the new season. Richarlison is expected to depart, while Randal Kolo Muani has left following the end of his loan spell.

Kroupi remains the club’s top target for the striker role, which could see any move for Vlahovic put on the back burner as a result.

But with the Serbian international available on a free transfer, it’s a deal that could emerge as a bargain considering the major expenditure being put out by the ownership to strengthen other areas of the squad during this window.

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Vlahovic Would Be Excellent Plan B

Dusan Vlahovic in action for Juventus

Dominic Solanke is currently the first-choice and only senior striker in the Spurs squad, but if De Zerbi is able to get his way and complete a deal to sign Kroupi, the expectation is that the Frenchman would be first choice.

Solanke would be excellent competition for him, and offer a different profile, but Vlahovic has got a much better goalscoring record throughout his career, and he is the type of profile who is a bit of a hybrid between them both.

The likelihood is that Vlahovic’s wages and the fact he wouldn’t be an automatic starter are going to be a hurdle that needs overcoming, but if Kroupi doesn’t arrive then it makes a deal much more feasible, and it’s one to keep an eye on while he remains unattached.


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Kylian Mbappe Shares Statement After Paraguayan Senator’s Racist Attack

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Kylian Mbappe has condemned Paraguayan senator Madame Celeste Amarilla’s “brazen racism” in response to her comments about the France striker.

Amarilla reacted to Mbappe’s spat with Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill following his nation’s 1-0 win over the South Americans at the World Cup. The Real Madrid star is said to have ignored the offer of a handshake and instead celebrated Les Bleus’ victory.

The 27-year-old scored the winner from the penalty spot in a feisty affair which saw players clash throughout. The Paraguayan players tried provoking Mbappe but he didn’t take the bait.

Mbappe Responds to ‘Despicable’ Amarilla

Kylian Mbappe (France) Kyle Ross (IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)

Mbappe’s actions after the game riled up Amarilla who responded to a post about the incident involving Gill. She wrote on X: “[Mbappe] is so dumb he didn’t even learn how to write; instead of mother’s milk he was sucking coconuts, and the most educated things he’s ever heard were chimpanzees. You should have shown him the finger, Orlando Gill — I do it in the Senate and nothing happens!!!”

Amarilla also took to Instagram with another controversial post about the Frenchman: “Cameroonian, colonised, pretending hard to be French, bitter, nouveau riche, arrogant and ugly. He was nervous and terrified the whole match, like his entire team — they couldn’t score a single goal, they won because of sh*t… The only thing many of us are complaining about with Albirroja is not having given him a slap across the face after the match ended. And I’m not even a football fan.”

Mbappe has now hit back at Amarilla with a statement on his X account describing the senator as a ‘despicable woman’ who is ‘unworthy of her position.’ He wrote:

“You are a despicable woman and unworthy of your position. You do not represent Paraguay, that country which has sweated passion and honor throughout the competition. Through your recklessness and your brazen racism, the entire world has already forgotten the journey and the historic effort that your players accomplished during this World Cup, making way for an incompetent woman who gives the worst possible image of her country. I will never allow people like her the freedom to spread their hatred and racism across the world.”

Mbappe has been one of the standout performers at this summer’s World Cup and his goal against Paraguay took his tally to seven goals in five games. The Paraguayans tried underhanded tactics to beat France, including several reckless challenges and petulant behaviour.

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