FIFA has officially announced the roster of match officials selected for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted across Canada, Mexico, and the United States. The list includes 36 referees, 69 assistant referees, and 24 video match officials from 45 different countries.
Notably, no referees from Mali were selected for the 2026 tournament. This continues a trend, as Mali was also not represented among the refereeing corps for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The selection is based on performances in FIFA tournaments and other high-level competitions over recent years.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) will be represented by officials from several nations, including Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, and Rwanda. FIFA stated that all selected officials have undergone rigorous preparation and will participate in seminars ahead of the tournament.
The 2026 World Cup will be the largest in history, featuring 48 teams. The first match is scheduled to be played in Mexico City on June 11, 2026.
