Three match officials from southern Africa have been selected to take part in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, highlighting the region’s continued presence on football’s biggest stage.
The officials, drawn from the Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (COSAFA), were named as part of FIFA’s list for the tournament, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada. The expanded competition will feature 48 teams and 104 matches, running from 11 June to 19 July.
In total, FIFA has appointed 52 referees, 88 assistant referees and 30 Video Assistant Referee (VAR) officials for the global showpiece.
South Africa’s Abongile Tom has been included among the referees, marking a significant milestone in his career as he prepares for his first appearance at a World Cup finals. His selection follows a series of strong performances in recent editions of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations as well as in CAF interclub competitions.
Tom’s inclusion signals recognition of his consistency at continental level, with FIFA rewarding officials who have demonstrated reliability in high-pressure matches.
Joining him is fellow South African Zakhele Siwela, who will serve as an assistant referee at his third World Cup. Siwela previously officiated at both the 2018 and 2022 tournaments, bringing valuable experience to the 2026 competition.
During the 2018 World Cup, Siwela was involved in matches including Belgium’s 3-0 victory over Panama and Poland’s 1-0 win against Japan. He was again selected for the 2022 finals, where he officiated in Japan’s 2-1 upset over Spain and France’s 4-1 win against Australia.
His repeated appointments underline FIFA’s confidence in his performance and decision-making at the highest level of the game.
Angola’s Jerson Emiliano dos Santos has also been named as an assistant referee for the tournament. Like Siwela, he has prior World Cup experience, having officiated at the 2018 finals as part of the same team. The pair worked on the same matches during that competition.
Dos Santos returned for the 2022 World Cup as part of a different officiating team, where he took charge of Belgium’s 1-0 victory over Canada.
The selection of these three officials ensures that the COSAFA region will once again be represented among the match officials at a World Cup, reflecting the growing influence and recognition of African referees in international football.
With the tournament set to be the largest in World Cup history, the role of match officials is expected to be more demanding than ever, as they oversee a significantly increased number of fixtures across three host nations.
