Record Number of Concacaf Match Officials Selected for FIFA World Cup 2026

Record Number of Concacaf Match Officials Selected for FIFA World Cup 2026

• Nine referees among a record 29 total match officials from the region

• All six women match officials selected for the FIFA World Cup 2026 represent Concacaf

• Oshane Nation becomes the first Caribbean referee selected since 2002 

Miami, FL (Friday, April 10, 2026) – Concacaf will be represented by a record number of match officials at the FIFA World Cup 2026. Building on increased representation in recent cycles, the Confederation will have 29 match officials at the FIFA World Cup 2026 – up from 19 in 2022 – setting a new record for Concacaf. 

The appointments include nine referees, 15 assistant referees, and five video match officials, underscoring the Confederation’s continued presence across all aspects of football’s biggest global stage.

“Congratulations to the selected referees on this outstanding achievement. This is a proud moment for our Confederation and reflects the exceptional quality, professionalism, and diversity of our match officials,” said Concacaf President and FIFA Vice President Victor Montagliani. “It also highlights the tremendous progress made over the past decade in transforming Concacaf and firmly establishing our Confederation at the center of global football. At this summer’s FIFA World Cup, we will see strong regional representation of both men and women at what will be the largest sporting event in history,” Montagliani concluded.

Concacaf Director of Refereeing Nicola Rizzoli also praised the group and highlighted the work behind their selection. 

“We are extremely proud of our referees and all the match officials for the work and commitment they have shown throughout the long preparation process. This achievement is the result of a true team effort that began a decade ago under the leadership of President Montagliani, driven by the unwavering commitment of the Concacaf Refereeing Department and supported by FIFA and key stakeholders who believed in and contributed to preparing our match officials to succeed on the global stage.” 

The nine selected referees are Ivan Barton (El Salvador), Juan Calderón (Costa Rica), Ismail Elfath (United States), Drew Fischer (Canada), Katia García (Mexico), Héctor Said Martínez (Honduras), Oshane Nation (Jamaica), Tori Penso (United States), and César Ramos (Mexico). 

Oshane Nation becomes the first Caribbean referee selected for a men’s FIFA World Cup since 2002, while Drew Fischer and his assistant referees mark the first-ever Canadian trio appointed to a FIFA World Cup. 

The full list of match official appointments is available here. 

In 2022, the Confederation had 19 match officials selected, while 29 have been appointed for 2026. Notably, all six women match officials selected for the FIFA World Cup 2026 represent Concacaf. 

As confirmed by FIFA, the FIFA World Cup 2026 will feature 52 referees, 88 assistant referees, and 30 video match officials from all six confederations and 50 member associations, marking the most extensive match official appointment in the tournament’s history.

The selection process was conducted over more than three years and followed FIFA’s “quality first” principle, with appointments based on performance and consistency at FIFA tournaments, as well as in international and domestic competitions.

The 2026 edition will be the largest FIFA World Cup to date, featuring 48 teams and 104 matches across three host countries. 

With a historic number of match officials selected and a record six national teams participating, Concacaf will have a strong presence on the global stage, highlighting the region’s continued growth.