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2026 World Cup referees to receive record salaries

2026 World Cup referees to receive record salaries

Fans' attention at the 2026 World Cup is focused on the stars on the field, but referees will also receive record financial rewards for their commitment to football's biggest tournament.

According to published data, the main referees selected for the World Cup will receive a base salary of around 86 thousand euros just for participating in the group stage, while this amount could increase significantly depending on the matches they will officiate in the knockout stage.

Compared to the 2022 edition, where the base reward was around 60 thousand euros, the current increase is considered significant and reflects the expansion of the tournament and the growing importance of the role of referees.

In addition to the basic salary, referees will also receive bonuses for each match officiated, while the benefits also include assistant referees and VAR system officials.

FIFA has selected 52 main referees, 88 assistant referees and 30 VAR officials to manage 104 matches during the tournament, a significant expansion compared to the previous edition.

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