Three Qatari referees have been announced among the lineup of match officials.
Three Qatari officials have been appointed to officiate at the upcoming FIFA U-17 World Cup as Qatar prepares to welcome the tournament for the first time.
Referee Mohammed Ahmed Al Shammari and assistant referees Khalid Khalaf and Faisal Eid Al Shammari will represent Qatar among a global lineup of match officials.
The tournament, set to run from November 3 to 27, will be the first-ever U-17 World Cup to feature 48 teams, making it the largest edition in the competition’s history.
A total of 81 officials, 27 referees and 54 assistant referees from 35 FIFA Member Associations, have been selected by the FIFA Referees Committee.
“This year’s FIFA U-17 World Cup is a landmark competition that will feature the stars of tomorrow and will equally offer talented match officials a thrilling opportunity to further develop their careers,” said Pierluigi Collina, chairman of the FIFA Referees Committee.
FIFA’s Director of Refereeing, Massimo Busacca, added that the selection aligns with FIFA’s long-term goal of nurturing a new generation of elite referees.
The tournament will also see the use of Football Video Support (FVS), a cost-effective alternative to VAR. Successfully trialled in previous youth tournaments, FVS allows coaches to request limited reviews of key incidents, including goals, penalties, red cards, or mistaken identity.
