FIFA has unveiled a list of 52 referees for the upcoming 2026 World Cup, slated between June 11 and July 19. The list includes 46 Male Referees and six Female Referees marking a significant milestone in the sport. 7 Referees were also selected from Africa.
The selected referees, along with 88 assistant referees and 30 video match officials, hail from all six confederations and 50 member associations.
The women referees areTori Penso from United States who refereed the 2023 Women’s World Cup final between Spain and England, Katia Garcia from Mexico who is known for her experience in the Liga MX. The 2026 World Cup will feature 48 teams and 104 matches, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
“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 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” FIFA Chief Refereeing Officer Pierluigi Collina said praising the selection.
