FIFA's Referees Committee has issued strict directives prohibiting referees nominated to officiate at the 2026 World Cup from refereeing any friendly matches involving teams participating in the tournament during the international break scheduled for March. The Egyptian Football Association received official notification of this ban, which is a proactive measure to ensure the highest standards of impartiality.
The Egyptian Football Association, through its media center, confirmed that this decision is part of intensive preparations for the biggest football event, scheduled to take place from June 11 to July 19, 2026, co-hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States. The decision primarily aims to reinforce the principles of integrity and transparency, and to shield referees from any pressure or unofficial direct contact with the teams whose matches they may officiate later in the finals, prior to the official and final announcement of the selected squad.
In a related development, the Egyptian Football Association's Referees Committee, headed by Oscar Ruiz, informed the two Egyptian international referees nominated for the World Cup, Amin Omar (field referee) and Mahmoud Ashour (VAR referee), of the decision, which has now taken effect. The inclusion of this duo on the preliminary list is an achievement that reflects FIFA's confidence in Egyptian referees and their ability to officiate at major international events.
Context of the event and the importance of the 2026 World Cup
The 2026 World Cup is of exceptional and historic importance, as it will be the first edition to feature 48 teams instead of 32. This increase in the number of matches necessitates a larger and more physically and mentally competent refereeing team. This expansion places additional pressure on FIFA's Referees Committee to select elite referees capable of handling the diverse footballing styles and intense fan pressures across three different countries.
Historically, FIFA has been careful to isolate referees before major tournaments, shielding them from any situations that might raise suspicion or create an excessive familiarity with certain players. This protocol is in place to ensure that decisions on the pitch are completely free from any prior influence. The international break in March is a crucial period for evaluating referees, as they are closely monitored not only during official matches but also for their conduct and adherence to international regulations.
The two Egyptian referees enjoy the full support of the board of directors of the Egyptian Football Association, headed by Engineer Hani Abu Rida, and the referees committee led by Oscar Ruiz, to provide them with all means of success in the final tests, in the hope of an honorable representation of Egyptian and Arab refereeing in this global forum to which the eyes of the world are turned.
