Kenya’s absence from the global officiating stage will persist after no local referee was included in the list for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The roster released by FIFA confirms the officials set to oversee matches at the expanded tournament, but Kenya once again fails to feature marking a second straight omission after the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

FIFA has selected 52 referees, 88 assistant referees, and 30 Video Match Officials drawn from all six confederations, with additional support officials making up the full officiating team for the tournament scheduled between June and July.

The selection process was based on consistent high-level performance over a three-year period.

According to Pierluigi Collina, chairman of the FIFA Referees Committee, the chosen officials represent the very best globally.

He noted that they have been closely monitored over several years, officiated at major FIFA competitions, and undergone regular performance evaluations at both domestic and international levels.

Collina added that the officials will receive extensive preparation ahead of the tournament, including support from fitness coaches, medical teams, physiotherapists, and mental performance specialists to ensure peak condition by the time they report for duty.

The 2026 edition is set to be the largest World Cup ever, featuring 48 teams and 104 matches across the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

Collina also highlighted that this will be the biggest pool of match officials assembled for a single tournament, with an increase compared to previous editions, alongside continued efforts to promote women’s refereeing.

For Kenya, however, the spotlight remains distant. The country last had representation at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, when Aden Range Marwa made history as the first Kenyan to officiate at the global showpiece.

In the latest selection cycle, experienced names such as Peter Waweru were overlooked, underlining the ongoing struggle for Kenyan referees to break into the elite international bracket.

Africa will nonetheless have representation through officials like Mustapha Ghorbal, Jalal Jayed, Dahane Beida, Pierre Atcho, Mohamed Amin Mohamed Omar, Abongile Tom and Artan Omar Abdulkladir.

Kenya’s continued absence is likely to reignite debate over the development and exposure of local referees, with growing calls for reforms aimed at restoring the country’s presence on football’s biggest stage.

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