FIFA has officially revealed the list of referees selected for the 2026 World Cup, with Africa represented by seven central referees at the tournament.
The continent will be presented by Jalal Jayed (Morocco), Mustapha Ghorbal (Algeria), Amin Mohammed (Egypt), Dahane Beida (Mauritania), Pierre Atcho (Gabon), Abongile Tom (South Africa), and Omar Abdulkadir Artan (Somalia).
This selection marks a historical achievement for African refereeing, as it represents the highest-ever representation of central referees from the continent at a FIFA World Cup.
This reflects the continent’s growing presence in global football governance, as well as FIFA’s increasing confidence in African refereeing talent.
With only one month separating football fans from the beginning of the tournament, this 2026 edition will be special, as it will feature an expanded format including 48 nations and 104 matches scheduled across the US, Canada, and Mexico.
The 2026 World Cup will offer these selected officials an opportunity to showcase African refereeing quality and expertise on football’s biggest stage.
