FIFA announces Referee training courses for 2026 World Cup, three Egyptians selected

FIFA has confirmed the upcoming training courses for referees in preparation for the 2026 World Cup, with three Egyptian officials set to participate. The courses, aimed at refining skills for both field and video referees, will be held in early 2025.

The first course, specifically for video assistant referees (VAR), will take place in Doha from January 19 to 21, 2025.

Among those selected for this course is Mahmoud Ashour, who recently made a return to refereeing after a brief hiatus.

Field referees will attend a separate training session in Dubai from January 27 to 31, 2025. Egyptian referees Amin Omar and Mohamed Marouf will be in attendance for this segment, marking a significant opportunity for the pair to showcase their expertise.

Ashour, who served as the VAR official in Zamalek’s recent match against Al-Masry, is expected to be part of the referee team for the 2026 tournament if selected.

Meanwhile, Marouf was the centre referee for the controversial Al-Ahly vs Al-Ittihad Alexandria match in the Nile League, which ended in a 1-1 draw.

Both officials have been recognized for their potential in this crucial training programme.

FIFA’s training initiative underscores the importance of high-quality refereeing in the lead-up to the 2026 World Cup, which will see increased participation and global attention.