Three Chinese referees selected for 2026 FIFA World Cup

The Chinese Football Association confirmed Thursday that referees Ma Ning, Fu Ming and Zhou Fei have been appointed as referees for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Ma will serve as a referee, Zhou as an assistant referee, and Fu as a video assistant referee.

Ma Ning before the Group G match between Serbia and Cameroon at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar on Nov. 28, 2022. (Xinhua/Xu Zijian)

It will mark the second time Ma has been included on the FIFA World Cup referee list after serving as a fourth official at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar and officiating in several matches. The 46-year-old is set to become the first Chinese referee to take part in two editions of the World Cup.

Fu and Zhou, meanwhile, will both make their FIFA World Cup debuts.

In recent years, Chinese referees have made frequent appearances at major international competitions. Ma and Fu officiated at the inaugural expanded FIFA Club World Cup in 2025.

A Chinese refereeing team consisting of Ma Ning, Fu Ming, Zhou Fei and Zhang Cheng also took charge of the final of the 2023 AFC Asian Cup in Qatar, marking the first time Chinese referees had officiated the final of the tournament.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be held June 11-July 19 across the United States, Canada and Mexico, and will feature an expanded 48-team format.