The 2026 World Cup in North America features 48 teams and 104 matches — the largest in history. Alongside the players, a record 170 referees, assistant referees, and video assistant referees (VARs) have been selected from 50 FIFA member nations, including eight from the United States and six women. But the journey to officiate soccer’s biggest stage is as demanding as the tournament itself.
Former assistant referee Leif Lindberg, who worked the 2002 final between Brazil and Germany, recalls his World Cup debut: “It was my first World Cup game — and South Korea’s first World Cup game ever (at home), too. We had 50,000 spectators all in red jerseys. The noise was incredible.” Turning that dream into reality requires more than intense training. Lindberg notes, “Most referees have been through at least one divorce. Many sacrifice family life in one way or another.”
How Referees Are Selected
The selection process for this World Cup began immediately after Qatar 2022. Candidates attended seminars, underwent fitness tests, and needed prior FIFA tournament experience. Their performances in domestic and international competitions were monitored over three years before a committee finalized the lineup.
Former assistant referee Renato Faverani, who officiated the 2014 final between Germany and Argentina, explains: “In every important match ahead of the World Cup, we have one or two observers.” Referees are evaluated as teams, receiving feedback that is compared with other officiating crews. Only those active in top-level fixtures — like the UEFA Champions League or European Championship — are considered.
Once at the World Cup, referees are appointed three to four days before each game based on form. FIFA bars officials from taking charge of matches involving their own country to avoid conflicts of interest. Lindberg recalls: “It was a very special moment to follow our national team and hope they would lose. If they reached the semifinals, I would have had to go home.”
The Call-Up to the Final
Being named for the final is an overwhelming moment. Faverani recounts returning from a practice session to find all referees assembled. FIFA President Sepp Blatter stood at the front, unfurled a sheet of paper, and read the names. “For two or three hours, it was the best moment. Then, the pressure and responsibility arrived.”
Preparation begins days before kickoff. Referees study teams’ defensive tactics, players’ characteristics, and watch hours of footage. Knowing which players are prone to confrontations helps maintain composure. Faverani recalls a 2013 World Cup playoff between Portugal and Sweden featuring Cristiano Ronaldo and Zlatan Ibrahimović: “When the whistle blows, it’s just 11 against 11, no more.”
One “very difficult” decision from the 2014 final still lingers. With the score 0-0, Germany’s Benedikt Höwedes hit the post, and Thomas Müller was in an offside position by less than 10 centimeters. Faverani raised his flag correctly, earning the nickname “Robo Assistant Referee” from a German newspaper.
The Cost of Three Decades
Progressing from amateur leagues to the World Cup took Faverani and Lindberg about 30 years. Of the 3,725 officials on FIFA’s international list, only 4.5% made it to North America in 2026. Most referees must hold regular employment — Faverani worked as a credit manager, flying between countries for Champions League and Serie A matches while catching up on office work via phone and email.
“It is a passion for me. But I now realize how much time I took away from my family, my wife, my daughters, my mother,” Faverani says, visibly emotional. Lindberg adds that aging bodies are a challenge: “Players are often 10 to 20 years younger. We do much more physical training than them because of age.”
Boos and Abuse
Technology has put officials under sharper scrutiny. Online abuse from frustrated fans — some betting on matches — is routine. Daniele Curcio, president of Referee Abroad, says a breakdown in trust is driving low retention among aspiring officials. “It is something every federation in the world now has to deal with. There needs to be a cultural change.”
Despite the misconceptions and unseen hard work, refereeing remains rewarding. “It’s a great job. It’s something that develops you, not just as an athlete, but as a person. It teaches you a set of lifelong soft skills that otherwise you wouldn’t know about,” Curcio says.
