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.
Well, “if” Elfath ends up having a major refereeing disaster at the Arab Cup due to lack of rhythm (and let’s be honest, Arab Cup games are never easy!), FIFA could still decide to leave him out.
DeleteIt’s frustrating to see a UEFA referee who’s been consistently active and fit in the Champions League possibly miss out, while someone from the US who hasn’t officiated in over a year is being pushed forward. That’s hard to justify in a high-performance environment.
Hopefully, Schärer isn’t pushed for a call-up after missing two FIFA tournaments through injury. He’s an excellent referee, but with a limited athletic profile, it would be difficult to justify ahead of those who’ve remained active.
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.
ReplyDelete"Disgrace" is also the word I would use. Going back many years this is the worst refereeing I've seen, even worse than Chelsea-Barcelona 2009. In that game, Ovrebo made several gigantic mistakes but at least he was trying. To add no further time on at the end, after about 4-5 minutes of delays in added time, I struggle the see how one can even come to the conclusion that the referee was even trying to be a fair timekeeper. Yes this sounds harsh, and it pains me to write this way about a referee, but it was completely unacceptable in a way much worse than making an unintentional mistake.
DeleteNah,you did not watch Algeria vs Uganda yesterday.
DeleteThe amount of dissent and disrespecting the ref that went unpunished.
My God.
Elfath 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?
First, Yusuke Araki isn’t injured, he just officiated the WC qualifier Oman 0:0 Qatar a few days ago.
DeleteSecond, within the AFC, Ma Ning’s ranking is clearly higher than Araki’s, and from FIFA’s Referees Committee’s perspective, Ma also has the edge. The Arab Cup is his final assessment before the World Cup, and unless he makes huge mistakes just like Ryuji Sato in 2021 Arab Cup, he’s the top East Asian candidate for 2026. Also, Japan already has Yoshimi Yamashita, so Araki’s World Cup chances are slim.
Third, “broken English”? Seriously? Ma Ning made history at the 2022 CWC as the first referee ever to give an open-mic OFR explanation, clearly and professionally. Maybe drop the bias and start paying attention to the facts.
Wait, what makes you think Yamashita is going to the men's World Cup next year?
Delete@Yifei I followed your comment about Ma Ning performance in Iraq vs Indonesia match that if you can put your subjectivity out from assessment at least you should say he's performance was not flawless, if not want to say he's performance was not good, the last minutes incident I can support Ma Ning to not give the penalty, but at the same time he give 2YC to Iraq player it's too confusing. For the DOGSO moment I can support his decision for not giving RC because he clearly said "the ball was gone" (lack of distance). But to not give Iraq player RC after he kick Kevin Diks with intention dangering safety of the opponents even Fu Ming was not check that one it was poor image of refereeing. I'm not bias but the Chinese FA must be focused on the next generation, Ma Ning 2x times failed to be main referee in WC 2022 and CWC 2025 and he famous in negativity context with Asian Cup 2023 final that can you imagine if on the final a referee has 3 VAR intervention for penalty that all the way went to the host (Qatar), maybe he will be selected as main referee this time because "seniority" and it was long time since 2014-Nishimura, EAFF didn't have main referee in world stage tournament. Shen Yinhao for me is better than Ma Ning, he's not isolated as him, but as you know how poor development for young referee in AFC. Even when you compare Araki vs Ma Ning, did you think Ma Ning really better than Araki? Araki with his experience in Ekstraklasa simply is better than Yamashita and Sato. Imagine AFC will have 2 representative that already 47 years old in WC26, The Great Faghani and Ma Ning.
DeleteSo what’s the thinking behind the call-ups of Nyberg and Eskas?
ReplyDeleteWe already had Kovács at the Intercontinental Cup, and now the Scandinavians. They’re probably the three European refs from the CWC group with the least FIFA experience (apart from Zwayer), and both Kovács and Eskas had a below par CWC-tournament. So it’s a mix of limited FIFA-experience and underwhelming performances.
My bet: Zwayer gets an intercontinental playoff next year.
https://youtu.be/WbWy9Ylx2Qs?si=kfoZxc6pGuFE5qPw
ReplyDeleteSmall highlights from Algeria vs Uganda;
2:38-foul before goal?
4:25-missed yc?
6:17-missed yc?
8:38-persistent fouling,YC
11:07-confrontation,nothing given
12:20-missed handball?
12:30 -penalty whistled,also some doubts,but agressive action and reaction towards ref that went unpunished..wow.
13:27-another penalty ,reckless foul by GK,only 2nd YC of the match..also reaction by UGA player was also something else.
Ref was A.Heerlall.
No control of the match and players,the second he allowed Uganda's goal he lost all control.
Many YC's missed,plenty confrotations were forgiven,miss big handball incident that was on the edge of penalty box,not shown in these highlights.
Plenty timewasting forgiven to UGA players who needed to win and therefore when they were leading time was wasted very much.
Almost forget,clear RC missed to UGA player.
I dont know what African state of refereeing will look like in the future,but if this type of refs are handling these big matches.
Then better import refs from other federations that can surely do better job.
Also,no VAR.Just wow.
For these kinds of games no VAR is just something else.
I think of justice to not be two referees in country I expect referees in world cup will be
ReplyDeleteSpain :manzano
Portugal: pinheiro
England:,oliver
France: letexier
Italy:Marian's
Holland : makellei
Poland : symon
Sui: schärer
Romania : kovacs
Bosnia pljeto
And siebert
DeleteI don't think that nyberg and eskes until kovacs deserves to go world cup and the biggest proof of this is three together only got five matches in last fifa clup world cup 2025
ReplyDeleteI said before istvan kovacs is not calm and qualititave referee but rosseti loves him
ReplyDeleteIs undermining and discrediting referees the latest addition to your Portuguese propaganda strategy? ;-)
DeleteI am not Portuguese but what matters to me is performance
Delete