FIFA has announced the amount of manpower required to officiate the matches in the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup.
There will be 104 matches from start to finish and that will require a total of 52 referees, 88 assistant referees, and 30 video match officials.
They are known as the FIFA Team One and they come from all six confederations and 50 Member Associations.
FIFA says the officials were selected from their long-standing quality first principle.
"This year's FIFA World Cup will be the biggest in history," said FIFA's Chief Refereeing Officer Pierluigi Collina. "With a 48-team line-up and 104 matches to be contested across the most extensive geographical footprint in the tournament's history.
While the eyes on the field play a crucial role in the officiating, so does technology.
That includes goal-line technology and offside technology.
Also, for the first time, referee-worn cameras will be used in broadcasts.
Given that this is the largest World Cup in history with 48 teams competing, that means this will include the largest group of officials.
