FIFA has defended its selection of match officials for the 2026 World Cup, outlining a rigorous and lengthy process used to identify what it describes as the best referees in world football.
The governing body confirmed a record number of officials for the tournament, with 52 referees, 88 assistant referees and 30 video match officials chosen from across six confederations and 50 member associations.
The expanded list reflects the scale of the 2026 competition, which will feature 48 teams and 104 matches across three host nations.
However, attention has largely centred on how those officials were selected, particularly following the omission of some high-profile names from Africa.
According to FIFA Referees Committee chairman Pierluigi Collina, the process has been ongoing for more than three years and involved continuous monitoring and evaluation.
“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,” Collina revealed.
“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.”
FIFA’s explanation comes amid reaction to the absence of referees such as Jean-Jacques Ndala and Issa Sy, both of whom handled major fixtures at the most recent Africa Cup of Nations, including the final and a quarter-final.
While FIFA did not directly address individual omissions, the governing body stressed that selections were based on consistent performance, preparation and overall readiness rather than isolated matches.
Africa will still have representation at the tournament, with referees including Mustapha Ghorbal, Amin Mohamed, Pierre Atcho, Jalal Jayed, Dahane Beida, Tom Abongile and Omar Artan included in the final list.
Collina also highlighted the growth of the refereeing team, noting the inclusion of more officials compared to previous tournaments, as well as continued progress in gender representation.
“It’ll be the largest FIFA Team One ever, with 41 more match officials than at Qatar 2022.
“Each of them must be ready to be appointed for a match and to contribute actively to ensuring that the refereeing at the World Cup is a success.
“The fact that six women match officials have been selected continues a trend that was started four years ago in Qatar as we aim to further develop women’s refereeing.”
Preparations for the tournament will intensify at the end of May, when all selected officials gather in Miami for a ten-day seminar designed to fine-tune their readiness.
The 2026 World Cup, to be staged across United States, Canada and Mexico from 11 June to 19 July, will be the biggest in the competition’s history.
