2026 World Cup Referees
During the 2026 FIFA World Cup, referees play a crucial role in ensuring a fair and professional tournament. On this page, you’ll find a complete overview of all referees and assistant referees selected by FIFA.
You can also read about how the selection process works, which rules and guidelines officials must follow, and which technologies – such as VAR and goal-line technology – are used during the tournament to make decisions as accurate and transparent as possible.
Referee Headquarters and Location
The 2026 World Cup referees will be based in the state of Texas, the most central location among the host nations. The headquarters for referees and assistant referees will be established in either Dallas or Houston.
Thanks to this central location, referees will have the shortest travel distances between matches.
Both Dallas and Houston offer excellent training facilities and high-quality hotels. These cities have previously hosted referee headquarters for other major sporting events.
FIFA also reserves the option to relocate the headquarters as the 2026 World Cup progresses, depending on the match schedule.
Referee Selection and Match Appointments at the 2026 World Cup
The match officials for each World Cup game are appointed by the FIFA Referees Committee. Only referees from the FIFA International Refereeing List are eligible, and no official may be from a country participating in that match. A reserve assistant referee is appointed for every game.
This section explains how FIFA appoints referees, manages replacements, and records all match details in the official match report during the 2026 World Cup (Article 37 of the tournament regulations).
Replacement in case of withdrawal
If the referee or an assistant referee becomes unavailable before or during a match, the fourth official or the reserve assistant referee takes over. The Referees Committee decides who replaces an unavailable fourth official or reserve assistant. In exceptional circumstances, a local official or a match without a fourth official may be permitted.
Official match report
After each match, the referee completes the official digital match report inside the stadium. It includes all key incidents: cards, dismissals, misconduct by fans or staff, and any other notable events before, during, or after the match.
Technology in the Game
FIFA uses advanced technology during the 2026 World Cup to make the game fairer and more accurate (Article 36 of the 2026 World Cup Regulations):
- Goal-line technology determines with certainty whether the ball has completely crossed the line. The decision supports the referee and is final.
- VAR (Video Assistant Referee) assists in reviewing key incidents such as goals, penalties, red cards, and cases of mistaken identity.
- Semi-automated offside technology may also be used to detect offside faster and more precisely.
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The 2026 World Cup referees will reside in Texas, the most central state. The referees' headquarters will be located in Dallas or Houston.
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Author of this content is Patrick. I have been playing soccer for more than 25 years and follow the daily news closely. My hobbies include playing football, running and maintaining various websites, in addition to my job as a financial professional.
I do not work for any related company or institution, so the information is reliable and independent. The information has been collected accurately from reliable sources and is regularly updated.