Five Indian match officials have been included in the FIFA International List of Match Officials for 2026. Rachana Kamani, Ashwin Kumar, and Aditya Purkayastha are among those added as referees. Additionally, Muralitharan Pandurangan and Peter Christopher have been appointed as Assistant Referees. Kamani is currently undergoing the AFC Referee Academy course.
Nineteen match officials from India are now part of the FIFA list for 2026. The draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup took place at the John F. Kennedy Center, marking the first 48-team edition of the tournament. The draw ceremony revealed several notable matchups, including Morocco being drawn with Brazil in Group C.
England and Croatia are in Group L, considered strong contenders for the title. Ghana and Panama face a tough challenge in progressing from this group. Italy might join Canada, Qatar, and Switzerland in Group B if they advance through the European play-offs.
The opening match of the tournament will see Mexico playing South Africa on home soil. Indians included in the FIFA International list of match officials for 2026 are referees Venkatesh R., Harish Kundu, Senthil Nathan Sekaran, Crystal John, Ashwin Kumar, Aditya Purkayastha, Ranjita Devi Tekcham, and Rachana Hasmukhbhai Kamani, along with assistant referees and a futsal referee.
