BY Issah Olegor
Ten referees from across Africa have been named in the preliminary pool of match officials being considered for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup, as preparations intensify for the historic global football tournament set to take place in United States, Canada and Mexico.
The 2026 tournament will mark a significant milestone in football history as it expands from 32 to 48 participating teams, increasing the scale of the competition and the number of match officials required to oversee games.
Africa has been allocated nine automatic qualification slots for the tournament, reflecting the continent’s growing influence in global football.
As part of the early preparations, FIFA has reportedly compiled preliminary lists of referees from different confederations, including Africa, who are being monitored as potential candidates for officiating roles during the tournament. From the African continent, ten referees have emerged as early contenders for selection to officiate at football’s most prestigious competition.
The referees identified on the preliminary African list include Mustapha Ghorbal of Algeria, Jean-Jacques Ndala from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Amin Omar of Egypt, Pierre Atcho from Gabon, Beida Dahane of Mauritania, Issa Sy from Senegal, Omar Artan of Somalia, Tom Abunjil of South Africa, Mahmoud Ismail from Sudan, and Moroccan referee Jalal Jiyed.
In addition to on-field referees, Morocco could also have representation in the Video Assistant Referee system, with international referee Hamza El Farouk reportedly under consideration for a role within the VAR team during the tournament.
Despite the circulating reports, both FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) have clarified that the final list of match officials for the World Cup has not yet been confirmed.
Officials from the governing bodies have described some recent media reports as speculative, emphasizing that the official selection process is still ongoing.
The appointment of referees for the World Cup typically involves a rigorous multi-stage evaluation system. Candidates are closely monitored during continental and international competitions, where their technical ability, decision-making, physical fitness, and consistency are assessed over an extended period. Only those who meet FIFA’s strict officiating standards ultimately make the final list.
Sources within football administration indicate that the current preliminary pool will be gradually reduced in the coming months as referees undergo additional physical tests, performance reviews, and technical seminars ahead of the final announcement.
