FIFA Shortens Referee List for World Cup While Retaining Assistant Referees

The referees' committee of the International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA) has reduced the list of officials participating in the 2026 World Cup to only 12 referees, after most of the referees from previous tournaments were excluded. Only Jordanian referee Adham Al-Makhadmah and Moroccan Jallel Jaid maintained their spots, while ten referees from different continents were included in the list. The 2026 World Cup featured an unprecedented participation of referees from 49 associations, with 51 field referees, 88 assistant referees, and 30 video assistant referees, amid the exclusion of some officials before the tournament's start.