South African football is celebrating a major milestone after match officials Abongile Tom and Zakhele Siwela were named on the official refereeing roster for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The global showpiece, set to take place across the United States, Mexico and Canada, will now feature strong South African representation — a proud moment for the nation’s football community.
At just 34, Tom continues to rise as one of South Africa’s top referees. A member of FIFA’s elite panel since 2020, he has built an impressive résumé, including high-pressure assignments at the Africa Cup of Nations in 2023 and 2025, where he notably officiated a quarterfinal clash. His selection signals growing global recognition of his consistency, authority, and command on the pitch.
For Siwela, the appointment marks a remarkable achievement as he prepares for his third consecutive World Cup. Having already featured as an assistant referee in the 2018 and 2022 tournaments, his inclusion once again underlines his experience at the highest level of the game.
Siwela is part of a 10-man African assistant referee team selected for the tournament, alongside officials from across the continent — a testament to Africa’s growing influence in world football officiating.
Africa will also have representation in the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) category, with Ashour Mahmoud and Hamza El Fariq included among the officials.
The appointments highlight the continued rise of South African and African referees on the global stage, reinforcing the continent’s reputation for producing top-quality match officials.
As the countdown to 2026 begins, all eyes will not only be on the players — but also on the referees proudly carrying the South African flag onto football’s biggest stage. 🇿🇦⚽
No tags for this post.
