The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has confirmed that seven referees from across the continent have been appointed by FIFA to officiate at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The selected center referees represent a diverse group from North, West, Central, and East Africa, highlighting the growing pool of talent in African officiating. The list includes:
Mustapha Ghorbal (Algeria)
Amin Mohamed (also known as Amin Omar, Egypt)
Pierre Atcho (Gabon)
Jalal Jayed (Morocco)
Dahane Beida (Mauritania)
Abongile Tom (South Africa)
Omar Artan (Somalia)
Mustapha Ghorbal, the most experienced of the group, returns for his third World Cup appearance after officiating at the 2018 and 2022 tournaments.
The Algerian referee has built a strong reputation for consistency in high-stakes matches, including CAF Champions League finals and international qualifiers.
Several others are set to make their debut on football’s biggest stage.
Omar Artan of Somalia, who has already made history as the first Somali referee selected for a FIFA World Cup, will bring fresh energy to the tournament.
Artan has gained recognition for his performances in CAF competitions and was recently named among Africa’s top officials.
Dahane Beida (Mauritania) has impressed in recent years, notably refereeing the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations final.
Pierre Atcho (Gabon), Jalal Jayed (Morocco), Amin Mohamed (Egypt), and Abongile Tom (South Africa) complete the contingent, each bringing experience from continental competitions and domestic leagues.
This selection underscores CAF’s commitment to developing refereeing standards across the continent.
The officials have undergone rigorous preparation, including fitness tests and seminars, to meet FIFA’s high expectations for the expanded 48-team World Cup.
FIFA is expected to announce the full global list of match officials in the coming weeks, with these seven African referees joining an elite group tasked with ensuring fair play in one of the most anticipated sporting events in history.
The appointments have been welcomed by football stakeholders in Africa, who see this as recognition of the progress made in refereeing development programs across the confederation.
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