As FIFA looks to ensure its match officials reach peak performance for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in Canada, Mexico and the United States this summer, the first in a series of intensive refereeing seminars was held in Rio de Janeiro.
The seminar brought together 24 top referees from 16 different CONMEBOL and Concacaf countries to hone their skills and intensify their preparation for the tournament. The week-long programme consisted of a demanding schedule of morning on-field physical sessions and afternoon theoretical sessions. To provide realistic match scenarios, officials worked on the pitch with the U20 team of Olaria, a traditional Rio de Janeiro club. Director of FIFA Refereeing Massimo Busacca supervised the sessions which had been planned with Pierluigi Collina, the Chairman of the FIFA Referees Committee.
Mr. Busacca highlighted the need for officials to prepare with the same level of professionalism and detail as the players who will perform on the biggest stage at this summer’s tournament, which kicks off on 11 June and concludes with the final at MetLife Stadium in New York New Jersey on 19 July. “The referee must always be in the right place at the right moment. We have to go on the pitch every day to prepare this, like top players do,” he said. “It’s very important. It’s crucial. We have five months to go until the FIFA World Cup, and this is really a very important seminar for our match officials.”
The morning sessions involved on-field simulations of match situations along with fitness work and medical checks for the referees who remain the absolute authority on the field of play, despite technological innovations designed to assist them. Mr. Busacca highlighted the need for officials to prepare with the same level of professionalism and detail as the players who will perform on the biggest stage at this summer’s tournament, which kicks off on 11 June and concludes with the final at MetLife Stadium in New York New Jersey on 19 July.
“The referee must always be in the right place at the right moment. We have to go on the pitch every day to prepare this, like top players do,” he said. “It’s very important. It’s crucial. We have five months to go until the FIFA World Cup and this is really a very important seminar for our match officials.”
The morning sessions involved on-field simulations of match situations along with fitness work and medical checks for the referees who remain the absolute authority on the field of play, despite technological innovations designed to assist them.
Source: FIFA
