More or less than in Qatar? This is how much a referee earns to officiate a match at the 2026 World Cup
FIFA has not announced official figures, but according to The Times, match officials at the 2026 World Cup will earn six figures in total earnings.
Referees at the 2026 FIFA World Cup will earn more than $100,000 for their participation, according to The Times — a major jump from the roughly $70,000 base fee paid to lead officials at Qatar 2022.
And that’s just the starting point. Those assigned to the knockout rounds — and especially the final — will receive additional bonuses that can significantly boost their total payout.
How many referees will be taking part at the World Cup?
FIFA’s compensation structure combines a base salary with per‑match payments and performance‑based bonuses. That means the referees trusted with high‑stakes elimination games are the ones who ultimately walk away with the biggest checks.
Back at the start of April, the governing body released its full list of officials for the tournament. In total, FIFA has appointed:
- 52 main referees
- 88 assistant referees
- 30 video match officials (VAR)
More matches, more pay
All six confederations and 50 member associations are represented, for a World Cup that will feature 104 matches, the largest in history.
“The selected match officials are the very best in the world,” FIFA’s Chief Refereeing Officer Pierluigi Collina explains. “They were part of a wider pool of officials that was identified and monitored over the past three years. Their performances in domestic and international matches were regularly assessed”.
The pay increase is tied directly to the expanded tournament format. With the World Cup growing from 32 to 48 teams, FIFA emphasized that referee selection was based on quality and consistency, following years of monitoring by the Referees Committee. More teams and more matches mean higher competitive demands — and a more crucial role for officiating crews.
At Qatar 2022, referees already received a fixed fee plus participation conditions. But in 2026, with more games and greater responsibility, officials will earn more than ever.
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