Four Moroccan referees selected for 2026 FIFA World Cup

Four Moroccan referees, Jayed Jalal as central referee, Akarkad Mostafa and Brinsi Zakaria as assistant referees, and El Fariq Hamza for video assistance, have been selected for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This edition will be the largest in history, featuring 48 teams and 104 matches across an unprecedented geographical spread. FIFA has unveiled the list of World Cup 2026 referees, which includes 52 central referees, 88 assistant referees, and 30 video referees, drawn from six confederations and 50 member associations. This represents 41 more officials than the previous edition in Qatar. FIFA highlights that this "Team One" is the largest contingent of officials in World Cup history, with the 170 selected judges chosen for their consistent quality at the highest level, following a rigorous selection process spanning over three years. Pierluigi Collina, Head of Refereeing and Chairman of the FIFA Referees Committee, stated that the selected referees were chosen from a large pool of candidates who were pre-selected and monitored over the past three years. They participated in seminars and officiated in FIFA competitions, with their performance in national and international matches regularly evaluated. Starting May 31, members of "Team One" will attend a ten-day preparation camp in Miami. Video referees will then move to Dallas, which will host the International Broadcast Centre, while central and assistant referees, along with auxiliary staff, will remain in Miami. FIFA also conf