The FIFA Referees Committee, chaired by Pierluigi Collina, has officially banned officials pre-selected for the 2026 World Cup from officiating in international friendly matches this March.
This radical measure aims to place referees in an exclusive preparation bubble, keeping them away from controversy and external pressures a few months before the North American deadline.
The international body justifies this directive on the grounds of transparency and total integrity before the final list of selected referees is published.
By prohibiting its best referees from officiating internationally during this window, FIFA hopes to ensure that the selection process remains free from any influence, thus guaranteeing absolute neutrality for the biggest tournament in history.
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