Seven referees from across Africa have been appointed to officiate at the FIFA World Cup 2026, underlining the continent’s growing influence in global football officiating.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) will be represented by officials from Algeria, Egypt, Gabon, Morocco, Mauritania, South Africa, and Somalia. The selected referees are Mustapha Ghorbal, Amin Mohamed, Pierre Atcho, Jalal Jayed, Dahane Beida, Tom Abongile, and Omar Artan.
Among them, Ghorbal stands out as the most experienced, having previously officiated at both the 2018 and 2022 editions of the tournament. His inclusion brings valuable continuity and expertise to the African delegation.
In contrast, officials such as Omar Artan will be making their FIFA World Cup debut, marking a significant milestone both personally and for Somali football. The appointments highlight CAF’s continued efforts to develop and project top-level refereeing talent onto the world stage.
The presence of seven referees reflects Africa’s increasing credibility in officiating, as the continent prepares to play a key role not only through its teams but also through its match officials at the 2026 global showpiece.
