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No Korean match officials will be present for fourth straight FIFA World Cup

Published: 10 Apr. 2026, 11:24

This image provided by FIFA on April 10 shows an armband worn by a match referee. [YONHAP]

No Korean referee will work at the upcoming FIFA World Cup in North America, making it the fourth consecutive time the country will not have match officials at football's showpiece competition.

FIFA on Friday unveiled the list of 52 referees, 88 assistant referees and 30 video match officials set to work at this year's World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. They represent six confederations and 50 FIFA member countries in what FIFA described as “the most comprehensive lineup of match officials” in tournament history.

This will be the largest World Cup ever, with the number of participating countries rising from 32 to 48.

“The appointments were made based on FIFA's longstanding 'quality first' principle and [...] the consistency of the performances delivered by candidates at FIFA tournaments, including international and domestic competitions in recent years,” FIFA said in a statement.

Korea hasn't had an official at a World Cup since 2010, when assistant referee Jeong Hae-sang worked in South Africa. In 2002, when Korea co-hosted the tournament with Japan, Kim Young-joo became the first Korean referee in World Cup history.

Yonhap