FIFA Club World Cup
Table of Contents
South African football fans are feeling let down as the official list of FIFA Match Officials for the Club World Cup 2025, scheduled from 14 June to 13 July 2025, does not include any South African (SA) representatives. The FIFA document lists 35 referees, 68 assistant referees, and 24 video match officials, with African nations like Algeria (ALG), Senegal (SEN), and Mauritania (MTN) represented, but South Africa—usually coded as RSA—is missing. This absence has sparked conversations among fans who hoped to see SA talent on the global stage at this major tournament.
Breaking Down the FIFA Match Officials List
The FIFA Club World Cup 2025, a 32-team tournament hosted in the United States, has a diverse group of officials from across the globe. The list of 35 referees includes well-known names like Abatti Ramon from Brazil, Falcon Perez Yael from Argentina, and Beida Dahane from Mauritania. The 68 assistant referees feature Al Naemi Ramzan from Qatar and Lopez Walter from Honduras, while the 24 video match officials include Al-Marri Khamis from Qatar and El Fariq Hamza from Morocco.
Africa is represented by several officials: Mustafa Ghorbal and Tejera Gustavo from Algeria, Issa Sy and Beida Dahane from Senegal and Mauritania respectively, and Chade Gabriel from Angola, among others. However, the absence of South African officials stands out, especially since SA has a history of producing capable refs for international events. This exclusion has left many wondering what went wrong.
Why Are There No South African Officials?
FIFA’s selection process for match officials is tough and competitive. Officials are chosen based on their performance in major tournaments, consistency in domestic leagues, fitness levels, and ability to handle high-pressure situations. Video match officials also need to show expertise in using VAR technology. For the 2025 Club World Cup, FIFA seems to have prioritised officials who’ve shone in recent global events like the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, or the 2024 UEFA Champions League.
South Africa has produced notable referees in the past. Victor Gomes, a retired SA referee, officiated at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, handling a high-profile match between France and Morocco. He was also named the best referee at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations. However, since Gomes retired in 2022, no SA referee has reached the same international level. Current SA refs like Akhona Makalima, who’s broken barriers as a female referee, and Abongile Tom, who’ve officiated in local leagues and CAF matches, might not have had enough exposure in top-tier global competitions to meet FIFA’s criteria for this tournament.
Another reason could be the lack of South African referees in CAF’s elite panel, which is often a stepping stone to FIFA events. Refs from Algeria and Senegal, like Ghorbal and Sy, are part of this panel and regularly officiate in CAF Champions League finals and FIFA World Cup qualifiers, giving them more visibility. The South African Football Association (SAFA) might need to focus on getting more refs into this elite group to boost their chances in future selections.
The Bigger Picture: Club World Cup 2025 Details
The 2025 Club World Cup is a big deal—it’s the first time the tournament will feature 32 teams, up from the previous seven-team format. It’s happening in the USA, across 12 stadiums, with the final set for 13 July 2025 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford. The tournament is a warm-up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, also in North America, and will feature top clubs like Real Madrid, Manchester City, and Al Ahly [Web ID: 4] [Web ID: 10].
African clubs are well-represented, with four teams in the mix: Al Ahly (Egypt), Espérance Sportive de Tunis (Tunisia), Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa), and Wydad AC (Morocco). Al Ahly kicks off against Inter Miami on 15 June at Hard Rock Stadium, while Mamelodi Sundowns face Ulsan HD on 18 June in Washington, D.C. [Web ID: 7]. Despite this strong club presence, the lack of SA officials has been a sore point for local fans.
The tournament’s format includes eight groups of four teams, with the top two from each group advancing to the round of 16. Matches are high-stakes, and FIFA has ensured a global broadcast reach, with DAZN streaming all 63 games for free worldwide [Web ID: 8] [Web ID: 14]. Adding to the event’s flair, Robbie Williams will perform, and the official match ball by Adidas features a design inspired by the US flag
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