Ramon Abatti Abel, Raphael Claus and Wilton Sampaio are confirmed by FIFA to referee the World Cup in 2026

Federação Internacional of Futebol (FIFA) officially announced the list of professionals who will work in Copa of Mundo of 2026, with headquarters divided between Estados Unidos, México and Canadá. Brasil will have a historic representation on the arbitration panel, with the choice of three main referees: Raphael Claus, representative of the São Paulo federation, Ramon Abatti Abel, from Futebol0, and Futebol1, from Futebol2. The announcement consolidates the country’s position as a from the main refereeing schools in the world, guaranteeing presence on the field during the biggest sporting event on the planet.

The tournament is scheduled to take place between June 11th and July 19th, 2026, with unprecedented logistics as it involves three host nations. Além of central referees, the Brazilian technical committee will be reinforced by a significant contingent of assistants and specialists in video technology. The call-up reflects the consistent performance of Brazilian professionals in high-level international competitions in recent years.

• The selection includes 52 main referees of different nationalities.
• The total technical staff includes 87 assistants and 30 video referees (VAR).
• The competition will feature 104 matches played on North American soil.

Record number of Brazilian professionals called up for the World Cup

The 2026 call sets a new milestone for national arbitration by sending nine representatives to the tournament. Este number surpasses the mark of the previous edition, at Catar, when seven Brazilians were selected to join the official team. Naquela occasion, the highlight was the inclusion of Neuza Inês Back, who became the first woman in the country to act in a male Mundo Copa.

The presence of three main referees is a feat that has not occurred since 1950, when Brasil first hosted the event. Nas later editions, the Fifa rule was to select only one central judge per country, a rule that began to be relaxed recently due to the increase in the number of selections and games. The increase in technical delegation demonstrates the confidence of football’s highest authority in the technical and physical quality of Brazilian judges.

Experience and renewal in the technical arbitration framework

Raphael Claus and Wilton Pereira Sampaio arrive at Copa from Mundo in 2026 with the experience of having played in the 2022 edition. Ambos maintained consistent performances in decisive games in Copa Libertadores and in Eliminatórias Sul-Americanas, which ensured they remained in the elite group of Fifa. The duo is seen as the delegation’s security pillar, having in-depth knowledge of the protocols of major international events.

On the other hand, Ramon Abatti Abel represents the renewal and growth of Santa Catarina arbitration on the global stage. Apesar to be his debut in the world championships of the main teams, Abatti accumulates relevant experience in youth tournaments and in the Copa of the Mundo of Clubes of the Fifa. Sua rapid rise in career is the result of hard work constant monitoring carried out by the national and international arbitration commission.

Assistants and video referees complete the delegation

The list of Fifa for the World Cup in América of Norte includes five Brazilian assistants with extensive international experience. The confirmed names are Bruno Boschillia, Paraná, Bruno Pires, Goiás, Danilo Manis, São Paulo, América0, América1 América2, and América3, of América4 of América5. América6 professionals will work together with the main referees, maintaining the teams that already perform regularly in América7 and CBF competitions.

Technological support will also rely on Brazilian expertise through the call number Rodolpho Toski Marques. The Paraná native will act as video referee (VAR), a role that has become crucial for the integrity of results in modern football. Specialization in video technology is one of the areas where Brazilians have stood out, receiving praise for their agility in the processes of reviewing controversial bids.

Intensive preparation for the new competition format

The selected referees will undergo a series of seminars and rigorous physical tests organized by Fifa over the coming months. The objective is to standardize the criteria for interpreting the rules of the game and ensure that everyone is in ideal athletic conditions to withstand the intense pace of the tournament. Preparation includes training with VAR simulators and analysis of tactical plays to anticipate positions on the field.

The Copa of Mundo of 2026 will be the first with 48 selections, which requires a much greater logistical and technical effort than previous years. Brazilian officers will need to deal with long journeys between cities with different time zones and climates. The international federation requires referees to maintain an impeccable level of technical excellence to avoid errors that could compromise the fairness of the world championship.

Selection criteria and global representation of Fifa

The choice of referee officials follows strict technical criteria, where performance in domestic and continental competitions is monitored by Fifa radars. Não there is a reserve of vacancies per country, which makes the presence of nine Brazilians even more significant in the global context. The evaluation process lasts the entire cycle between one Copa and another, eliminating names that show a drop in performance.

The final list released on April 9, 2026 presents a balance between veterans from past editions and new talents who have stood out recently. Além of Brasil, European powerhouses like Inglaterra and França also secured multiple representatives on the main board. Geographical diversity is a hallmark of the entity, which seeks to integrate professionals from all continental confederations to guarantee the universality of the sport.

Logistics of operations in North American headquarters cities

Brazilian judges must present themselves Fifa weeks before the official opening of the tournament for the final acclimatization period. The headquarters numbers Estados Unidos, México and Canadá offer modern infrastructures, but the communication and coordination challenges between the headquarters are considerable. Cada referee trio will be assigned to specific matches depending on the progress of the group stage and the required neutrality criteria.

The expectation is that Brazilian arbitration will have an active participation even in the knockout stages, depending on the technical performance in the initial rounds. The recent history of Brazilians in the finals of international tournaments corroborates this possibility, keeping the country at the top of the world hierarchy. The success of these professionals is fundamental to the image of Brazilian football outside the pitch, demonstrating organization and technical competence.

Impact of the call-up on the national football scene

The appointment of Claus, Abatti and Sampaio serves as an incentive for the development of new referees in the youth categories of state federations. International recognition helps to attract investments and structural improvements to arbitration departments in Brasil. Além Furthermore, coexistence with the cutting-edge technologies used by Fifa allows these professionals to bring new knowledge to be applied in the Brazilian championship.

The record presence of Brazilians in 2026 reaffirms that, despite frequent criticism in local rounds, the national technical level is respected globally. The continuity of professionals like Wilton Pereira Sampaio in consecutive cycles shows career stability that is difficult to achieve. The next steps include practical training on American pitches to adapt to the ball time and the behavior of international athletes.