2025 FIFA Arab Cup is the last FIFA tournament for testing referees before FIFA 2026 World Cup. These are the selected officials:
Qatar, 1 December - 18 December 2025
AFC
Qatar – AL JASSIM Abdulrahman, AL MARRI Taleb, AL MAQALEH Saoud
Oman – AL KAF Ahmed, AL AMRI Abu Bakar, AL GHAITHI Rashid
China– MA Ning, ZHOU Fei, ZHANG Cheng
Jordan – MAKHADMEH Adham, AL KALAF Mohammad, AL ROALLE Ahmad
Qatar – AL JASSIM Abdulrahman, AL MARRI Taleb, AL MAQALEH Saoud
Oman – AL KAF Ahmed, AL AMRI Abu Bakar, AL GHAITHI Rashid
China– MA Ning, ZHOU Fei, ZHANG Cheng
Jordan – MAKHADMEH Adham, AL KALAF Mohammad, AL ROALLE Ahmad
CAF
Gabon – ATCHO Pierre, DITSOGA Boris Marlaise, ABEIGNE NDONG B. Amos
Egypt – MOHAMED Amin, ABOULEEGAL Mahmoud, ALI Ahmed Tawfik Teleb
Gabon – ATCHO Pierre, DITSOGA Boris Marlaise, ABEIGNE NDONG B. Amos
Egypt – MOHAMED Amin, ABOULEEGAL Mahmoud, ALI Ahmed Tawfik Teleb
CONCACAF
Costa Rica – CALDERON Juan, MORA Juan Carlos, ARRIETA William
USA – ELFATH Ismail, PARKER Corey, ATKINS Kyle
Guatemala – ESCOBAR Mario, VENTURA Luis, PANJOJ Humberto
Costa Rica – CALDERON Juan, MORA Juan Carlos, ARRIETA William
USA – ELFATH Ismail, PARKER Corey, ATKINS Kyle
Guatemala – ESCOBAR Mario, VENTURA Luis, PANJOJ Humberto
CONMEBOL
Paraguay – BENITEZ Juan Gabriel, CARDOZO Eduardo, SALDIVAR Miliciades
Chile – GARAY Cristian, URRUTIA Claudio, RETAMAL Jose
Paraguay – BENITEZ Juan Gabriel, CARDOZO Eduardo, SALDIVAR Miliciades
Chile – GARAY Cristian, URRUTIA Claudio, RETAMAL Jose
OFC
New Zealand – KAWANA-WAUGH Campbell-Kirk, TREVIS Isaac, COOK Edward
New Zealand – KAWANA-WAUGH Campbell-Kirk, TREVIS Isaac, COOK Edward
UEFA
Norway – ESKAS Espen, ENGAN Jan Erik, BASHEVKIN Isaak
Sweden – NYBERG Glenn, BEIGI Mahbod, SODERKVIST Andreas
Norway – ESKAS Espen, ENGAN Jan Erik, BASHEVKIN Isaak
Sweden – NYBERG Glenn, BEIGI Mahbod, SODERKVIST Andreas
VAR
AFC
ALSHEHRI Abdullah Dhafer (KSA)AL-MARRI Khamis – (QAT)
IIDA Jumpei – (JPN)
PU-UDOM Sivakorn – (THA)
CAF
BENBRAHAM Lahlou – (ALG)CONCACAF
CHAPMAN Allen – (USA)
PINEDA Benjamin –(CRC)
CONMEBOL
GARCIA NONI Antonio – (URU)
TOSKI MARQUES Rodolpho – (BRA)
UEFA
GILLETT Jarred – (ENG)
HIGLER Dennis – (NED)
SAN Fedayi – (SUI)
Ismail Elfath tries with a last chance after a long time out, Penso is in very strong position but it's possible to see two US referees.
ReplyDeleteVery unlucky Schaerer who was surely selected for this tournament, and San as VAR is the confirmation of that.
Now it will be interesting to see whether, despite of having missed all FIFA tournaments for different reasons, the Swiss will be called to WC. This seems rather unlikely because would be unfair to those who attended at least a tournament and one could draw the conclusion that being called for FIFA tournaments on the road to WC would be useless, but still one must also mention the very bad luck of the Swiss. Maybe officiating a WC play off, continental or intercontinental, would be the compensation for that, but not before March 2026, so very hard to take a final decision before.
I genuinely can't believe your first sentence here.
DeleteThis isn't Elfath's "last chance." It's a signal that he's going to the World Cup. He was out injured for over a year and did nothing internationally and nothing in MLS until two weeks ago. He took the fitness test in August and was immediately appointed to Arab Cup precisely because he'll be going to 2026. There was no other reason to rush fitness and no reason to appoint him here.
As for Penso, she's not in competition with Elfath. Of course she's going to the World Cup. She's the female they are pushing.
It's not "possible" you'll see two American referees. It's a certainty.
The only real question is whether or not Dickerson possibly getting the U20 Final would matter at all. I tend to thing it won't, because he just doesn't have any real international pedigree outside this tournament. But if he gets it and performs well, FIFA has a tough decision to make one way or another.
How is serious Sharer's injury ? When can he come back on the pitch?
ReplyDeleteSeems the focus in on Garay instead of Maza…Good to see Al-Kaf and Elfath.
ReplyDeleteCould gillett be in contention for the world cup can work with the English and Australia teams
ReplyDeleteA disgrace again.. Tantashev added +15 minutes in Qatar-UAE, but blew the whistle exactly at 14:59, despite Qatar goalie injury and time wasting playing by Qatar, it's fair to add more 4 minutes to UAE with Qatar played in 10 after VAR intervention for clear SFP. Is this truly the face of modern football with sponsor political pressure right now.
ReplyDeleteElfath for the World Cup final :)
ReplyDeleteIt seems Ma Ning and Al Jassim in front than Falahi or Yusuke Araki or maybe Araki is injured? His VAR selected over Fu Ming, but in doubt because Fu Ming status as AFC VAR No.1. Ma Ning with potential selected as main referee in WC that surely would be epic OFR show for broken English :)
I think FIFA really just doesn't know who to pick from AFC so there is a wider net being case there.
DeleteOther than Elfath, who is a special case, and Kawana-Waugh, as the OFC representative, I don't think anyone here is being looked at again while they are *safe* for 2026.
For some, like Garay and Atcho, I think the appointment here is a good thing as it means they've played themselves into a contending spot.
For others, like Nyberg, I'd be wary. Are Nyberg and Eskas in a straight race here? That would surprise me. But it's hard to read it another way. Why would they be the only two Europeans called for this?