FIFA World Cup 2026 – Referee Seminar (UEFA)

FIFA is holding this week in Seville a preparation seminar for European referees who aspire to referee at the 2026 World Cup, which will be held in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. In addition to being the venue for this preparation meeting, Spain has been represented at this seminar, both among the referees and instructors. Jesus Gil Manzano and Jose Sanchez Martinez were called as World Cup candidates and so was the president of the CTA, Luis Medina Cantalejo, as instructor.
Candidate referees attending this seminar: Irfan Peljto (BIH, 1984), Stephanie Frappart (FRA, 1983), Francois Letexier (FRA, 1989), Clement Turpin (FRA, 1982), Felix Zwayer (GER, 1981), Maurizio Mariani (ITA, 1982), Davide Massa (ITA, 1981), Serdar Gözübüyük (NED, 1985), Danny Makkelie (NED, 1983), Espen Eskas (NOR, 1988), Artur Dias (POR, 1979), Joao Pinheiro (POR, 1988), Istvan Kovacs (ROU, 1984), Srdjan Jovanovic (SRB, 1986), Ivan Kruzliak (SVK, 1984), Slavko Vincic (SVN, 1979), Jesus Gil Manzano (ESP, 1984), Jose Sanchez Martinez (ESP, 1983), Glenn Nyberg (SWE, 1988), Tess Olofsson (SWE, 1988), Sandro Schärer (SUI, 1988), Halil Meler (TUR, 1986)
Former World Cup referees Oscar Ruiz (COL), Nicola Rizzoli (ITA), Valentin Ivanov (RUS), Milorad Mazic (SRB), Cuneyt Cakir (TUR) and Jorge Larrionda (URU) are among the technical instructors.

Source: RFEF