By Rosemary Ugiomoh
FIFA has set May 31 as the start date for a training camp in Miami, Florida, for African match officials chosen for the 2026 World Cup.
The camp is part of FIFA’s push to maintain elite officiating standards before the tournament kicks off. It will gather referees, assistant referees, and VAR officials from across Africa for rigorous training and evaluation.
To make travel easier, FIFA will give each selected official a special visa code to streamline their US visa applications and avoid delays.
Sessions in Miami will cover fitness testing, technical briefings, and hands-on work with the latest officiating tech. The goal is to have every official sharp and consistent ahead of football’s biggest stage.
The 2026 World Cup, hosted jointly by the US, Canada, and Mexico, will be the first with 48 teams. The expanded format means more matches and a bigger spotlight on referees to get calls right.
