FIFA Unveils Largest Officiating Crew In World Cup History For 2026 Tournament

FIFA Chief Refereeing Officer Pierluigi Collina Image by FIFAnews release

FIFA has announced the selection of the largest officiating crew in World Cup history.

The organization named 52 referees, 88 assistant referees, and 30 video match officials to handle the 104 matches of the 2026 World Cup, 41 more match officials than at the 2022 World Cup games in Qatar.

The scale of the 2026 tournament makes this the biggest pool of officials ever assembled for a World Cup.

The group, known as FIFA Team One, was drawn from all six confederations and 50 member associations. Eight of the officials are from the United States. 

Officials were chosen according to the organization’s long-standing quality-first principle. Consideration was also given to “the consistency of the performances delivered by candidates at FIFA tournaments, as well as in international and domestic competitions in recent years,” according to a FIFA World Cup 2026 press release.

“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,” FIFA Chief Refereeing Officer Pierluigi Collina said. 

Six of the match officials in the upcoming World Cup are women, continuing a trend that started in Qatar four years ago.

“The selected officials have received, and will continue to receive, comprehensive support from our fitness coaches and medical staff, including physiotherapists and a mental health specialist. Our goal is to ensure that they’re in optimal physical and mental condition when they arrive in Miami on 31 May,” Collina added.

“This year’s FIFA World Cup will be the biggest in history, with a 48-team line-up and 104 matches to be contested across the most extensive geographical footprint in the tournament’s history,” Collina noted.

Team One will utilize technology, including goal-line systems and offside checks. For the first time, referee-worn cameras will appear in match broadcasts.

The full list of the 170 appointed FIFA match officials can be found here.