FIFA World Cup 2026

Canada, Mexico, USA, 11 June - 19 July 2026

AFC
Referee: Alireza Faghani (AUS, 1978)
Assistant Referee 1: George Lakrindis (AUS, 1985)
Assistant Referee 2: James Lindsay (AUS, 1986)

Referee: Adham Makhadmeh (JOR, 1986)
Assistant Referee 1: Mohammad Al-Kalaf (JOR, 1981)
Assistant Referee 2: Ahmad Al-Roalle (JOR, 1982)

Referee: Abdulrahman Al-Jassim (QAT, 1987)
Assistant Referee 1: Taleb Al-Marri (QAT, 1988)
Assistant Referee 2: Saoud Al-Maqaleh (QAT, 1988)

Referee: Ilgiz Tantashev (UZB, 1984)
Assistant Referee 1: Andrey Tsapenko (UZB, 1987)
Assistant Referee 2: Timur Gaynullin (UZB, 1982)

Support Match Officials
Referee: Ma Ning (CHN, 1979)
Assistant Referee: Zhou Fei (CHN, 1986)

Referee: Yusuke Araki (JPN, 1986)
Assistant Referee: Jun Mihara (JPN, 1981)

Referee: Khalid Al-Turais (KSA, 1987)
Assistant Referee: Mohammed Al-Abakry (KSA, 1980)

Referee: Omar Al-Ali (UAE, 1988)
Assistant Referee: Mohamed Al-Hammadi (UAE, 1984)

Video Match Officials
1. Shaun Evans (AUS, 1987)
2. Fu Ming (CHN, 1983)
3. Khamis Al-Marri (QAT, 1984)
4. Abdullah Al-Shehri (KSA, 1992)
5. Mohammed Obaid (UAE, 1984)

CAF
Referee: Mustapha Ghorbal (ALG, 1985)
Assistant Referee 1: Mokrane Gourari (ALG, 1982)
Assistant Referee 2: Abbes Zerhouni (ALG, 1983)

Referee: Amin Omar (EGY, 1985)
Assistant Referee 1: Mahmoud El-Regal (EGY, 1984)
Assistant Referee 2: Ahmed Hossam (EGY, 1983)

Referee: Pierre Atcho (GAB, 1992)
Assistant Referee 1: Boris Ditsoga (GAB, 1985)
Assistant Referee 2: Amos Abeigne (GAB, 1984)

Referee: Dahane Beida (MTN, 1991)
Assistant Referee 1: Jerson Dos Santos (ANG, 1983)
Assistant Referee 2: Elvis Noupue (CMR, 1979)

Referee: Jalal Jayed (MAR, 1987)
Assistant Referee 1: Mostafa Akarkad (MAR, 1989)
Assistant Referee 2: Zakaria Brinsi (MAR, 1983)

Support Match Officials
Referee: Omar Artan (SOM, 1992)

Referee: Abongile Tom (RSA, 1991)
Assistant Referee: Zakhele Siwela (RSA, 1982)

Video Match Officials
1. Mahmoud Ashour (EGY, 1976)
2. Hamza El-Fariq (MAR, 1990)

CONCACAF
Referee: Drew Fischer (CAN, 1980)
Assistant Referee 1: Michael Barwegen (CAN, 1986)
Assistant Referee 2: Lyes Arfa (CAN, 1986)

Referee: Ivan Barton (SLV, 1991)
Assistant Referee 1: David Moran (SLV, 1985)
Assistant Referee 2: Henri Pupiro (NCA, 1988)

Referee: Said Martinez (HON, 1991)
Assistant Referee 1: Walter Lopez (HON, 1978)
Assistant Referee 2: Christian Ramirez (HON, 1988)

Referee: Cesar Ramos (MEX, 1983)
Assistant Referee 1: Alberto Morin (MEX, 1980)
Assistant Referee 2: Marco Bisguerra (MEX, 1988)

Referee: Ismail Elfath (USA, 1982)
Assistant Referee 1: Kyle Atkins (USA, 1986)
Assistant Referee 2: Corey Parker (USA, 1986)

Referee: Tori Penso (USA, 1985)
Assistant Referee 1: Brooke Mayo (USA, 1990)
Assistant Referee 2: Kathryn Nesbitt (USA, 1988)

Support Match Officials
Referee: Juan Calderon (CRC, 1987)
Assistant Referee: Juan Mora (CRC, 1989)

Referee: Oshane Nation (JAM, 1991)
Assistant Referee: Caleb Wales (TRI, 1988)

Referee: Katia Garcia (MEX, 1992)
Assistant Referee: Sandra Ramirez (MEX, 1989)

Video Match Officials
1. Erick Miranda (MEX, 1982)
2. Guillermo Pacheco (MEX, 1995)
3. Tatiana Guzman (NCA, 1985)
4. Joseph Dickerson (USA, 1987)
5. Armando Villarreal (USA, 1986)

CONMEBOL
Referee: Yael Falcon (ARG, 1988)
Assistant Referee 1: Maximiliano Del Yesso (ARG, 1979)
Assistant Referee 2: Facundo Rodriguez (ARG, 1986)

Referee: Facundo Tello (ARG, 1982)
Assistant Referee 1: Juan Bellati (ARG, 1979)
Assistant Referee 2: Gabriel Chade (ARG, 1979)

Referee: Ramon Abatti (BRA, 1989)
Assistant Referee 1: Rafael Alves (BRA, 1984)
Assistant Referee 2: Danilo Manis (BRA, 1981)

Referee: Wilton Sampaio (BRA, 1981)
Assistant Referee 1: Bruno Boschilia (BRA, 1983)
Assistant Referee 2: Bruno Pires (BRA, 1985)

Referee: Cristian Garay (CHI, 1989)
Assistant Referee 1: Jose Retamal (CHI, 1981)
Assistant Referee 2: Miguel Rocha (CHI, 1980)

Referee: Juan Benitez (PAR, 1984)
Assistant Referee 1: Eduardo Cardozo (PAR, 1982)
Assistant Referee 2: Milciades Saldivar (PAR, 1983)

Referee: Gustavo Tejera (URU, 1988)
Assistant Referee 1: Carlos Barreiro (URU, 1989)
Assistant Referee 2: Nicolas Taran (URU, 1980)

Referee: Jesus Valenzuela (VEN, 1983)
Assistant Referee 1: Jorge Urrego (VEN, 1981)
Assistant Referee 2: Tulio Moreno (VEN, (1986)

Support Match Officials
Referee: Dario Herrera (ARG, 1985)
Assistant Referee: Cristian Navarro (ARG, 1988)

Referee: Raphael Claus (BRA, 1979)
Assistant Referee: Rodrigo Figueiredo (BRA, 1983)

Referee: Andres Rojas (COL, 1984)
Assistant Referee: Alexander Guzman (COL, 1985)

Referee: Kevin Ortega (PER, 1992)
Assistant Referee: Michael Orue (PER, 1985)

Video Match Officials
1. Hernan Mastrangelo (ARG, 1981)
2. Rodolpho Toski (BRA, 1987)
3. Juan Lara (CHI, 1989)
4. Nicolas Gallo (COL, 1986)
5. Antonio Garcia (URU, 1986)
6. Leodan Gonzalez (URU, 1983)
7. Juan Soto (VEN, 1977)

OFC
Support Match Officials
Referee: Campbell-Kirk Kawana-Waugh (NZL, 1983)
Assistant Referee: Isaac Trevis (NZL, 1989)

UEFA
Referee: Michael Oliver (ENG, 1985)
Assistant Referee 1: Stuart Burt (ENG, 1980)
Assistant Referee 2: James Mainwaring (ENG, 1982)

Referee: Anthony Taylor (ENG, 1978)
Assistant Referee 1: Gary Beswick (ENG, 1978)
Assistant Referee 2: Adam Nunn (ENG, 1985)

Referee: Francois Letexier (FRA, 1989)
Assistant Referee 1: Cyril Mugnier (FRA, 1983)
Assistant Referee 2: Mehdi Rahmouni (FRA, 1988)

Referee: Clement Turpin (FRA, 1982)
Assistant Referee 1: Nicolas Danos (FRA, 1980)
Assistant Referee 2: Benjamin Pages (FRA, 1986)

Referee: Felix Zwayer (GER, 1981)
Assistant Referee 1: Robert Kempter (GER, 1988)
Assistant Referee 2: Christian Dietz (GER, 1984)

Referee: Maurizio Mariani (ITA, 1982)
Assistant Referee 1: Daniele Bindoni (ITA, 1980)
Assistant Referee 2: Alberto Tegoni (ITA, 1981)

Referee: Danny Makkelie (NED, 1983)
Assistant Referee 1: Hessel Steegstra (NED, 1978)
Assistant Referee 2: Jan de Vries (NED, 1982)

Referee: Espen Eskas (NOR, 1988)
Assistant Referee 1: Jan Engan (NOR, 1986)
Assistant Referee 2: Isaak Bashevkin (NOR, 1989)

Referee: Szymon Marciniak (POL, 1981)
Assistant Referee 1: Tomasz Listkiewicz (POL, 1978)
Assistant Referee 2: Adam Kupsik (POL, 1982)

Referee: Joao Pinheiro (POR, 1988)
Assistant Referee 1: Bruno Jesus (POR, 1982)
Assistant Referee 2: Luciano Maia (POR, 1988)

Referee: Istvan Kovacs (ROU, 1984)
Assistant Referee 1: Mihai Marica (ROU, 1985)
Assistant Referee 2: Ferencz Tunyogi (ROU, 1986)

Referee: Slavko Vinčić (SVN, 1979)
Assistant Referee 1: Tomaž Klančnik (SVN, 1982)
Assistant Referee 2: Andraž Kovačič (SVN, 1985)

Referee: Glenn Nyberg (SWE, 1988)
Assistant Referee 1: Mahbod Beigi (SWE, 1986)
Assistant Referee 2: Andreas Söderkvist (SWE, 1988)

Support Match Officials
Referee: Alejandro Hernandez Hernandez (ESP, 1982)
Assistant Referee: Diego Sanchez Rojo (ESP, 1992)

Referee: Sandro Schärer (SUI, 1988)
Assistant Referee: Stephane De Almeida (SUI, 1988)

Video Match Officials
1. Bram Van Driessche (BEL, 1985)
2. Ivan Bebek (CRO, 1977)
3. Jarred Gillett (ENG, 1986)
4. Jerôme Brisard (FRA, 1986)
5. Bastian Dankert (GER, 1980)
6. Marco Di Bello (ITA, 1981)
7. Rob Dieperink (NED, 1988)
8. Dennis Higler (NED, 1985)
9. Tomasz Kwiatkowski (POL, 1978)
10. Carlos Del Cerro Grande (ESP, 1976)
11. Fedayi San (SUI, 1982)

UEFA Europa Conference League 2025/26 – Quarter-finals (First Leg)

9 April 2026

Rayo Vallecano – AEK Athens
Referee: Benoît Bastien FRA (photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Hicham Zakrani FRA
Assistant Referee 2: Aurélien Berthomieu FRA
Fourth Official: Jérémie Pignard FRA
VAR: Bram Van Driessche BEL
AVAR: Bastien Dechepy FRA
Referee Observer: László Vagner HUN

FSV Mainz – RC Strasbourg
Referee: Rade Obrenovič SVN
Assistant Referee 1: Jure Praprotnik SVN
Assistant Referee 2: Grega Kordež SVN
Fourth Official: Martin Matoša SVN
VAR: Matej Jug SVN
AVAR: Alen Borošak SVN
Referee Observer: Michael Argyrou CYP

Crystal Palace – AC Fiorentina
Referee: Donatas Rumšas LTU
Assistant Referee 1: Aleksandr Radiuš LTU
Assistant Referee 2: Dovydas Sužiedėlis LTU
Fourth Official: Manfredas Lukjančukas LTU
VAR: Rob Dieperink NED
AVAR: Erwin Blank NED
Referee Observer: Itchko Lozev BUL

Shakhtar Donetsk – AZ Alkmaar
Referee: Nicholas Walsh SCO
Assistant Referee 1: Francis Connor SCO
Assistant Referee 2: Daniel McFarlane SCO
Fourth Official: Donald Robertson SCO
VAR: Stuart Attwell ENG
AVAR: Kevin Clancy SCO 

Referee Observer: Darko Čeferin SVN

UEFA Europa League 2025/2026 – Quarter-finals (First Leg)

8 April 2026

SC Braga – Real Betis
Referee: Felix Zwayer GER (photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Robert Kempter GER
Assistant Referee 2: Dominik Schaal GER
Fourth Official: Florian Badstübner GER
VAR: Robert Schröder GER
AVAR: Pascal Müller GER
Referee Observer: Sokol Jareci ALB

9 April 2026
SC Freiburg – Celta de Vigo
Referee: Glenn Nyberg SWE
Assistant Referee 1: Mahbod Beigi SWE
Assistant Referee 2: Andreas Söderkvist SWE
Fourth Official: Adam Ladebäck SWE
VAR: Ivan Bebek CRO
AVAR: Tomasz Kwiatkowski POL
Referee Observer: Edward Foley IRL

Bologna FC – Aston Villa
Referee: Sandro Schärer SUI
Assistant Referee 1: Stéphane De Almeida SUI
Assistant Referee 2: Jonas Erni SUI
Fourth Official: Anojen Kanagasingam SUI
VAR: Fedayi San SUI
AVAR: Lukas Fähndrich SUI
Referee Observer: Carlos Velasco Carballo ESP

FC Porto – Nottingham Forrest
Referee: Marco Guida ITA 

Assistant Referee 1: Giorgio Peretti ITA
Assistant Referee 2: Giuseppe Perrotti ITA
Fourth Official: Matteo Marcenaro ITA
VAR: Daniele Chiffi ITA
AVAR: Michael Fabbri ITA
Referee Observer: Lassin Isaksen FRO

UEFA Champions League 2025/2026 – Quarter-finals (First Leg)

7 April 2026

Real Madrid – Bayern München
Referee: Michael Oliver ENG (photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Stuart Burt ENG
Assistant Referee 2: James Mainwaring ENG
Fourth Official: Andrew Madley ENG
VAR: Jarred Gillett ENG
AVAR: Marco Di Bello ITA
Referee Observer: Vladimir Šajn SVN

Sporting CP – Arsenal FC
Referee: Daniel Siebert GER
Assistant Referee 1: Jan Seidel GER
Assistant Referee 2: Rafael Foltyn GER
Fourth Official: Daniel Schlager GER
VAR: Bastian Dankert GER
AVAR: Sören Storks GER
Referee Observer: Alan Sant MLT

8 April 2026
Paris St. Germain – Liverpool FC
Referee: José Sánchez Martínez ESP
Assistant Referee 1: Raúl Cabañero Martínez ESP
Assistant Referee 2: Iñigo Prieto López ESP
Fourth Official: Juan Martínez Munuera ESP
VAR: Carlos Del Cerro Grande ESP
AVAR: Guillermo Cuadra Fernández ESP
Referee Observer: Roberto Rosetti ITA

FC Barcelona – Atletico de Madrid
Referee: István Kovács ROU
Assistant Referee 1: Mihai Marica ROU
Assistant Referee 2: Ferencz Tunyogi ROU
Fourth Official: Szabolcs Kovacs ROU
VAR: Christian Dingert GER
AVAR: Tiago Martins POR
Referee Observer: Stefano Podeschi SMR

Concacaf Champions Cup 2026 – Quarter-finals (First Leg)

7 April 2026

Nashville SC – Club America
Referee: Oshane Nation JAM (photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Caleb Wales TRU
Assistant Referee 2: Ojay Duhaney JAM
Fourth Official: Steffon Dewar JAM
VAR: Daneon Parchment JAM
AVAR: Benjamín Whitty CAY

Los Angeles FC – Cruz Azul
Referee: Keylor Herrera CRC
Assistant Referee 1: Carlos Fernández CRC
Assistant Referee 2: Danny Sojo CRC
Fourth Official: Steven Madrigal CRC
VAR: David Gómez CRC
AVAR: Yasith Monge CRC

8 April 2026
Tigres UANL – Seattle Sounders
Referee: Juan Calderón CRC
Assistant Referee 1: Juan Mora CRC
Assistant Referee 2: William Arrieta CRC
Fourth Official: José Torres PUR
VAR: Jesús Montero CRC
AVAR: Benjamín Pineda CRC

Toluca FC – Los Angeles Galaxy
Referee: Said Martínez HON
Assistant Referee 1: Walter López HON
Assistant Referee 2: Christian Ramírez HON
Fourth Official: Nelson Salgado HON
VAR: Selvin Brown HON
AVAR: Tatiana Guzmán NCA

CAF Champions League 2025/2026 – Semi-finals (First Leg)

11-12 April 2026

AS FAR – RS Berkane
Referee: Dahane Beida MTN (photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Jerson Dos Santos ANG
Assistant Referee 2: Elvis Noupue CMR
Fourth Official: Abdel-Aziz Bouh MTN
VAR: Haythem Guirat TUN
AVAR: Daniel Laryea GHA

Esperance de Tunis – Mamelodi Sundowns
Referee: Mustapha Ghorbal ALG
Assistant Referee 1: Mokrane Gourari ALG
Assistant Referee 2: Abbes Zerhouni ALG
Fourth Official:
VAR: Lahlou Benbraham ALG
AVAR:

CAF Confederation Cup 2025/2026 – Semi-finals (First Leg)

10-11 April 2026

CR Belouizdad – Zamalek SC
Referee: Abongile Tom RSA (photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Zakhele Siwela RSA
Assistant Referee 2: Souru Phatsoane LES
Fourth Official:
VAR: Akhona Makalima RSA
AVAR:

USM Alger – Olympic Safi
Referee: Amin Omar EGY
Assistant Referee 1: Mahmoud El-Regal EGY
Assistant Referee 2: Ahmed Hossam EGY
Fourth Official: Mohamed Maarouf EGY
VAR: Mahmoud Ashour EGY
AVAR: Hossam Azab EGY

Final seminar for European referees ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026

The final seminar to prepare match officials for the FIFA World Cup 2026 has been held in Italy where 16 elite referees from 15 different European FIFA Member Associations (MAs) were put through their paces. Integrated into FIFA’s strategy to ensure the highest possible standards in the selection process of match officials for the final tournament, Europe’s top referees assembled in Viareggio following the sessions in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in January and Doha, Qatar, in February for their counterparts in other confederations.

“These three seminars are the last part of an intensive programme, the road to the FIFA World Cup 2026, which started, already, at the beginning of 2023, immediately after the conclusion of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar,” explained Pierluigi Collina, FIFA Chief Refereeing Officer and Chairman of the FIFA Referees Committee. “The message we gave all the referees, all the candidates, who were selected for these seminars since the very beginning, was to do everything in their possibilities to not leave any stone unturned, try to do their best to be part of this FIFA World Cup 2026, not regret not having done something that they could have to be part of this selected group of referees. All the candidates were monitored by our instructors, by our fitness coaches, our doctors, physios. They really received important support and now we’re at the conclusion of this journey.”

As well as fitness and medical checks, referees participated in practical and theory sessions with an emphasis on establishing uniformity of decision-making for the 48 teams involved in the upcoming tournament’s 104 matches. “It’s like a player who is playing for his club and then he’s going to the national team, and the coach says, ‘In your club, you play like this. With me, you have to play like that’. And we believe a lot in our philosophy in FIFA, and we want the referees to understand this philosophy,” said Director of FIFA Refereeing Massimo Busacca. “We want to arrive at the FIFA World Cup and see, let’s say, all the decisions be almost the same ones taken in every game, and not that one referee in one game makes a personal interpretation. We need real uniformity.” He added: “The way we are doing seminars, and the reason we are doing seminars, is like the preparation of a national team. It’s not easy, but for that reason we work very hard. But we are very happy in the end about what we have done.”

Dutch referee and seminar participant Danny Makkelie added: “The key aspects of this preparation, of course, are uniformity – that we are all on the same page – that the FIFA concept has to be clear, especially in the grey areas, that we all decide on the same decision – that’s very important. And also, we discussed different topics, so theoretical, practical but also physical. And then, we are in the best conditions when we arrive at the FIFA World Cup.” Makkelie, who officiated at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, hopes he will make the final list for the tournament in North America when it is drawn up later this month. “When I was a child, as a young referee, it was my dream to be at the FIFA World Cup,” he explained. “This is the highest level you can reach as a referee, so I’m very proud to be here [at] the seminar. And I look forward so much to being in America and part of all the referees, the best referees [at] the best tournament in the world. So, this is my dream and I [am] going for it.”

Source: FIFA

UEFA Youth League 2025/2026 – Semi-finals

17 April 2026

SL Benfica – Club Brugge
Referee: Joey Kooij NED (photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Dyon Fikkert NED
Assistant Referee 2: Murat Kücükerbir NED
Fourth Official: Anojen Kanagasingam SUI
VAR: Jeroen Manschot NED
AVAR: Erwin Blank NED

Real Madrid – Paris St. Germain
Referee: Samuel Barrott ENG
Assistant Referee 1: Neil Davies ENG
Assistant Referee 2: Wade Smith ENG
Fourth Official: Luca Cibelli SUI
VAR: Michael Salisbury ENG
AVAR: Darren England ENG

FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 referee selection process continues with Rio de Janeiro seminar

As a competitive qualifying campaign starts to heat up across the globe, the selection process and training for the 33rd team at the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 has already begun. While hosts Brazil and 31 additional qualifiers compete next year for the most coveted trophy in the game, that elite 33rd team – the match officials – will be working hard to ensure that the eagerly anticipated tournament is refereed at the very highest level.

Towards the end of March, FIFA took an important step in identifying and preparing the Women’s World Cup officiating team in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where 24 accomplished referees hailing from Concacaf and CONMEBOL countries gathered for a rigorous, multi-day theoretical and technical seminar. At the helm was FIFA’s Head of Women's Refereeing, Bibiana Steinhaus-Webb. “This event is one out of three FIFA women’s elite referee seminars in 2026 that we are holding all around the world, to not only recognise and scout our talents, but also develop them, and select the (FIFA) World Cup referees,” explained Ms Steinhaus-Webb, the renowned German referee who officiated the memorable FIFA Women's World Cup 2011 final between Japan and the United States in Frankfurt, Germany.

“During these three events in 2026, we are seeing 53 officials from all over the world, from 38 Member Associations that are part of our road to Brazil,” she continued. “So, we are following those 53 officials closely to not only identify their performance today, but also their development and their potential to be at their peak condition in 2027 when it matters.” The pressure and prestige of a World Cup is as high for match officials as it is for players and coaches. It is the pinnacle. “It’s a dream,” said seminar attendee Katja Koroleva, the Soviet-born American referee. So the training and demands are rigorous, and to thrive in the rarified air of a World Cup, referees must be as fit and finely tuned as the players. The seminar helps establish the standard. The 24 referees in Rio spent significant time both in the classroom and on the pitch, where they took part in physical and technical training.

“The key aspects in the referees that we are looking for is, of course, their decision making, the preciseness and consistency in their decisions. To make the best decisions, you need to be in the best position to judge the incident,” said Ms Steinhaus-Webb, who worked at nine FIFA competitions overall and became the first woman to referee a men’s Bundesliga match in 2017. “So, fitness comes into play, endurance, speed, agility – all the things we are looking into to build the strengths, your physical components, where the medical team, the physio team, takes care of and looks after,” she added. “We are working closely with the referees to understand different cultures and different styles of football to be able to anticipate play on the field. We are working, as well, with technology to make sure that VAR processes, decision processes are totally understood and applicable for all the referees in all the different incidents.”

The level of detail and intensity left an impression on the referees, as did the environment and commitment to camaraderie. There was a World Cup feel in the Rio air, even though kick-off is 15 months away. “No better place to train, to feel the environment, the atmosphere amongst my colleagues from Concacaf and CONMEBOL, to be on the same page,” said Koroleva, who has officiated at multiple FIFA events, including the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023. That methodology, Koroleva said, is anchored by the mental and physical preparation required to referee a “fast game” played by “elite athletes”. Theoretical discussions focused on decision consistency, learning team tactics and how different countries approach the game, as well as the “mental glue” necessary to handle the World Cup match-day energy and atmosphere.

“The seminar is a great opportunity to be here with FIFA, especially in an iconic place for football like Brazil. But it’s (also) a great opportunity to showcase our skills, work with other referees, and to be selected amongst the best in FIFA and Concacaf and CONMEBOL,” said Carly Shaw-MacLaren, a Canadian who refereed at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Dominican Republic 2024. “It’s a very physically intensive week,” she continued. “And then, obviously, match performance is very important while we’re here, and then also technical sessions. So, we’re learning a lot in education sessions on new trends in football, and specific topics.”

Venezuela’s Emikar Calderas, who worked matches at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Costa Rica 2022 and the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023, said it was a “huge honour and feeling of responsibility” to participate in the seminar. “It represents an important step in my career as a referee. It’s also because I’m here with high-level instructors in order to improve my knowledge, spend time with different referees and reach my peak as a referee,” Calderas said. She echoed similar comments made by her colleagues when she said, “It would be a dream come true to represent my country in this high-level tournament and show all of my sacrifice, dedication and discipline.”

The FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 will be an unprecedented showcase for the women’s game and a testament to its exponential growth. It will also represent the tournament’s first staging in Latin America, a passionate football hotspot ready to embrace the excitement. Brazil will be the perfect backdrop, and while players around the world long to perform on that stage, so do match officials. “Every day we work hard, and I am motivated to be better than yesterday, to do something more, and to prepare, just like the athletes, to be a part of this memorable event that will, without a doubt, be historical here in Brazil,” Koroleva said. “I want to be a part of that show, to create this atmosphere for the world, for history.”

Source: FIFA