Fifa selects Premier League referees Oliver and Taylor for 2026 World Cup
Premier League referees Michael Oliver and Anthony Taylor have been selected by Fifa to officiate at the expanded 2026 World Cup in the United States.
The upcoming tournament will be the largest in history, featuring 48 international teams playing across a record 104 matches.
This marks the second consecutive global finals for the English duo, who previously took charge of fixtures during the 2022 event in Qatar.
They will be supported by four domestic colleagues, with Gary Beswick, Stuart Burt, James Mainwaring and Adam Nunn also receiving call-ups as assistant referees.
New technology and rule changes
The global governing body has introduced strict new time-wasting measures for the summer showcase.
Match officials will enforce a 10-second limit on substitutions and a strict five-second countdown for throw-ins and goal-kicks.
Fans watching broadcasts around the world will also benefit from unprecedented access, as referees are set to wear body cameras during matches.
Advanced semi-automated offside systems and connected ball technology will return to assist decision-making on the pitch.
Rigorous selection process
In total, 52 on-field referees, 88 assistants and 30 video officials have been chosen for the prestigious tournament.
Australian official Jarred Gillett will be the sole Premier League representative operating in the video assistant referee booth.
Other notable European names on the roster include France’s Clement Turpin, German official Felix Zwayer and Dutchman Danny Makkelie.
All selected personnel must attend a mandatory 10-day preparation seminar in Miami before the competition begins.
Fifa’s chief refereeing officer Pierluigi Collina stated that the group was identified and monitored over a rigorous three-year period.
The selected match officials are the very best in the world.
They have attended seminars and officiated at Fifa tournaments. In addition, their performances in domestic and international matches were regularly assessed.
The selected officials have received, and will continue to receive, comprehensive support from our fitness coaches and medical staff, including physiotherapists and a mental specialist.
