Compensation for 2026 World Cup referees announced

According to The Times, each referee officiating at the 2026 FIFA World Cup will receive approximately 100,000 dollars, or 86,500 euros. The tournament is scheduled to take place from June 11 to July 19, 2026, with the final match hosted at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Referees selected for the knockout stages may receive additional bonuses on top of their base fee. This compensation structure represents a significant increase, specifically doubling the amount paid to officials during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. While some sources describe the pay as record-breaking and historic, others simply confirm the financial figures provided. The 2026 tournament marks a major expansion in officiating budget compared to previous iterations.