Congolese referee Jean-Jacques Ndala will not be among the officials for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. FIFA published the list of selected match officials for the tournament on February 14, 2026, and Ndala's name was not included.
The list features 36 referees, 69 assistant referees, and 24 video match officials from around the globe. The selection is based on the officials' performances at FIFA tournaments and other international and domestic competitions in recent years.
Ndala, an experienced FIFA referee, has officiated in major African competitions and was part of the officiating team for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. His omission from the World Cup list means he will miss the tournament set to be hosted across Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
FIFA's selection process for World Cup officials is highly competitive, with only a fraction of international referees making the final cut for the sport's biggest event.
