FootyDream

FIFA has officially released the list of Ghanaian referees approved to officiate international matches for the 2026 calendar year.

The approved list features a total of 23 officials, comprising 10 Centre Referees, 10 Assistant Referees, one Futsal Referee, one Beach Soccer Referee and one Video Assistant Referee (VAR). Leading the contingent is experienced official Daniel Laryea, who earns recognition both as a Centre Referee and a Video Assistant Referee. The list also includes new assistant referee Richard Kwaku and Portia Oppong, who makes the cut for Beach Soccer officiating.

In line with FIFA regulations, Member Associations are required to submit annual nominations for new referees or seek renewal for existing officials on the FIFA list. The process is overseen by the Referees Committee of the Ghana Football Association, which ensures all nominees satisfy FIFA’s strict eligibility standards, including passing FIFA-approved fitness and medical examinations.

Following internal assessments, the nominations are forwarded to FIFA for final validation, with the world governing body reserving the right to reject any nominee who fails to meet its criteria.

Officials approved by FIFA are entitled to wear the FIFA badge from January 2026 to December 2026, with continued inclusion in subsequent years dependent on performance. The badge itself remains the exclusive property of FIFA throughout the calendar year.

Attached herein is the list of officials approved by FIFA.

Source: GFA

• Over 150 million tickets requested during Random Selection Draw ticketing phase to date
• Figure represents highest demand in FIFA World Cup™ history
• Phase to close on Tuesday, 13 January 2026 at 11:00 ET

At the halfway point of the ongoing Random Selection Draw ticketing phase, the FIFA World Cup 2026™ is already breaking records as over 150 million ticket requests have been submitted to date by fans from over 200 countries. The outcome of the current phase that opened on Thursday, 11 December 2025 means the FIFA World Cup 2026 is oversubscribed over 30 times based on verified individual credit card numbers submitted with each ticket application. The demand also represents 3.4 times more than the overall number of spectators who have attended the 964 matches that make up all 22 editions of the competition combined since 1930.

“The FIFA World Cup 2026 is set to be the greatest and most inclusive show on the planet, with more than 150 million tickets already requested in only the first 15 days, making this edition 30 times oversubscribed – a true showcase of incredible demand from fans from over 200 countries,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino. “This overwhelming response from passionate fans is a true representation of how our game is loved globally – we are going to make history in North America when we bring the world together like never before in a celebration of unity and the best of football.” World football’s showcase event will take place from Thursday, 11 June 2026 until Sunday, 19 July 2026 across 16 Host Cities in Canada, Mexico and the United States and features 48 teams competing in 104 total matches. The Random Selection Draw ticketing phase remains open until Tuesday, 13 January 2026 at 11:00 ET (17:00 CET), and the timing of a ticket request within this window does not affect the chances of success. Fans can enter the draw and find full details at FIFA.com/tickets. Following the closing of the current phase, a draw will take place thus giving all fans equal chances of success. Those who are unsuccessful will have the opportunity to secure their seats during the subsequent sales phases as additional tickets are made available.

Ticket prices will remain the same throughout this sales phase. Fans with an existing FIFA ID, should login using those credentials and then enter the Random Selection Draw, even if they have previously entered prior ticket draws. For those without an existing FIFA ID, an account must be created on FIFA.com/tickets, the official and preferred source of tickets for the FIFA World Cup 2026™, to get started. On Tuesday, 16 December 2025 FIFA confirmed that fans will benefit from a dedicated ticket pricing tier, which has been designed to make following their teams on football’s greatest stage more affordable. The newly introduced Supporter Entry Tier will be available at the fixed price of USD 60 per ticket for each of the 104 matches, including the final. Fans of a specific national team may also be eligible to apply for Participating Member Association (PMA) Supporter tickets at FIFA.com/tickets, should they meet their PMA’s eligibility criteria. Each PMA sets its own criteria for fans to be recognised as PMA supporters and establishes its own process for applying for PMA Supporter tickets. Fans who would like to immediately purchase access to specific match-ups and are looking for a premium, elevated matchday experience can purchase hospitality packages, which include match tickets, at FIFA.com/hospitality through On Location, the Official Hospitality Provider of the FIFA World Cup 2026™. Additionally, fans can consider all-inclusive travel packages from Qatar Airways, which include match tickets, transport, hotel stays and flights. As a not-for-profit organisation, FIFA reinvests the revenue it generates from the FIFA World Cup to fuel the growth of men’s, women’s and youth football throughout the 211 FIFA Member Associations. FIFA expects to reinvest over 90% of its budgeted investments for the 2023-2026 cycle back into the game, with the aim of significantly boosting the development of football around the world. A full overview of the FIFA World Cup investment budget is available on FIFA.com.

Source: FIFA