FIFA has unveiled its largest-ever team of match officials for the 2026 World Cup, setting a new record with 170 referees, assistants, and VARs selected for the summer spectacle across the United States, Mexico, and Canada. This massive contingent underscores the scale of the expanded 48-team tournament, which will feature 104 matches from June 11 to July 19.

The list includes 52 main referees, headlined by Poland's Szymon Marciniak, who earned global acclaim for his masterful handling of the epic 2022 final between Argentina and France. He will be joined by 88 assistant referees and 30 video assistant referees, all chosen from 50 different national federations to ensure top-tier officiating for the world's biggest sporting event.

In a significant step for inclusivity, six women match officials have been selected, continuing the groundbreaking precedent set at Qatar 2022 when France's Stéphanie Frappart became the first woman to referee a men's World Cup match. "This continues a trend we started four years ago as we aim to further develop women’s refereeing," said FIFA referee commission chairman Pierluigi Collina.

The 41-person increase from the 2022 tournament is a direct response to the expanded format. Collina emphasized the rigorous selection process, stating, "The selected match officials are the very best in the world. They have been identified, monitored, and assessed over the past three years at both domestic and international levels."

For German fans, Felix Zwayer will be the nation's sole main referee, bringing experience from Euro 2024 and major European finals. He will be supported by German assistants Christian Dietz and Robert Kempter, with Bastian Dankert serving as a video assistant referee.