Chinese referees make historic World Cup officiating debut in 2026
During the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Chinese referees Ma Ning (head referee), Fu Ming (VAR/SVAR), and Zhou Fei (assistant referee) officiated multiple group-stage matches, including Ecuador vs. Curaçao. Fu Ming earlier served as SVAR for Australia vs. Turkey. This marks the first time Chinese referees have officiated at a World Cup in 24 years, representing a milestone for Chinese football officiating.
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Jordanian Referee Muhadma to Officiate England vs. DR Congo World Cup Match
FIFA has officially announced that a Jordanian refereeing team led by 39-year-old referee Muhadma will officiate the World Cup Round of 16 match between England and the Democratic Republic of Congo, scheduled for July 2 at 00:00 Beijing time. Muhadma has previously refereed two group stage matches in the current World Cup. The report was published by Hupu, a Chinese sports media platform, and includes some user comments discussing the referee assignment in relation to Chinese referee Ma Ning. The article is a straightforward factual update on match officiating logistics.
虎扑 - 足球Ma Ning to Serve as Fourth Official for Germany vs. Paraguay, Zhou Fei as Reserve Assistant Referee
According to an official FIFA announcement on June 27, Chinese referees Ma Ning and Zhou Fei have been assigned to the World Cup knockout match between Germany and Paraguay. Ma Ning will serve as the fourth official, while Zhou Fei will act as the reserve assistant referee. The news was reported by Hupu Soccer, citing FIFA's official website. User replies in the article express a desire for Ma Ning to become a main referee in future matches, but note that being a fourth official is still a notable role. The match is part of the World Cup knockout stage.
虎扑 - 足球Chinese Referee Ma Ning Makes World Cup Debut, Trends on Weibo
Chinese referee Ma Ning made history on June 21 by officiating the World Cup group stage match between Ecuador and Curaçao, which ended in a 0-0 draw. This was the first appearance of a Chinese referee in a World Cup finals match in 24 years. His performance sparked significant discussion on Chinese social media platform Weibo, where two related topics—'Ma Ning's two yellow cards in one minute' and 'Ma Ning surrounded by players'—occupied the top two positions on the trending list. The match took place in the second round of the group stage. The news was reported by Hupu Soccer, a Chinese sports media outlet, with source attribution to Weibo.
虎扑 - 足球Overseas Fans Praise Chinese Referee Ma Ning's World Cup Debut
In the Ecuador vs Curacao World Cup match on June 21, Chinese referee Ma Ning became the first Chinese head referee in a World Cup in 24 years. The match ended 0-0, with Curacao earning their first-ever World Cup point. Ma Ning received widespread praise from international fans on social media for his strict but consistent officiating, which allowed smooth game flow and discouraged diving. Fans commented on his clear standards, accurate decisions, and ability to let the game play. Some hoped he would be assigned to later group stage or knockout matches. The article also notes betting accounts suggested bookmakers underestimated the number of yellow cards.
虎扑 - 足球Han Qiaosheng: Chinese Referee Team Shows Professionalism in World Cup Match
In the second round of Group E of the 2026 World Cup, Ecuador drew 0-0 with Curacao. Curacao goalkeeper Room made 15 saves to secure his team's first-ever World Cup point. The match's highlight was the Chinese referee trio led by Ma Ning, marking the first time in 24 years a Chinese referee officiated a World Cup match. Zhou Fei served as assistant referee and Fu Ming handled VAR. Han Qiaosheng praised the officiating as smooth, clear, and consistent, with six yellow cards issued. The seamless cooperation of the Chinese referees was noted as demonstrating their professional level.
虎扑 - 足球Ma Ning Makes World Cup Refereeing Debut, First Chinese Official in 24 Years
On June 21, Chinese referee Ma Ning made his personal debut as the head referee in a World Cup match, officiating the Ecuador vs. Curaçao group stage game. This marks the first time in 24 years that a Chinese referee has appeared in the World Cup. Ma Ning was joined by VAR referee Fu Ming and assistant referee Zhou Fei, all from China. The match is part of the second round of the World Cup group stage. The news was reported by Hupu, a Chinese sports media platform.
虎扑 - 足球Ecuador vs Curaçao World Cup Group Stage: Chinese Referee Ma Ning Makes Debut
On June 21 at 8:00 Beijing time, a World Cup group stage match is set between Ecuador and Curaçao. The starting lineups for both teams have been announced, with Caicedo and Pacho listed as key players for Ecuador. The match notably features Chinese referee Ma Ning officiating his World Cup debut. Additional Chinese officials Fu Ming and Zhou Fei are participating as VAR referee and assistant referee, respectively. The news is sourced from Hupu Soccer and the FIFA Official Website.
虎扑 - 足球Fu Ming Appointed as VAR for Ecuador vs. Curaçao Alongside Ma Ning and Zhou Fei
On June 19, 2024, FIFA's World Cup referee working group confirmed that Chinese referee Fu Ming will serve as the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) for the Group E match between Ecuador and Curaçao. This marks Fu Ming's first VAR role in a World Cup match after serving as support VAR in three previous group stage games. Additionally, Chinese referees Ma Ning (main referee) and Zhou Fei (first assistant referee) have been selected for the same match. The three Chinese referees officiating together in a World Cup match is described as another record-breaking achievement for Chinese football refereeing. The announcement was made by Hupu News, citing the official FIFA referee working group.
虎扑 - 足球FIFA Announces Referee Assignments for 2026 World Cup Matches 17-20
FIFA has announced the referee assignments for matches 17-20 of the 2026 World Cup. A notable development is that the officiating team for Match 20, Group J between Austria and Jordan, consists of referees from five different countries, marking the first time in the tournament that the head referee and assistant referees are not from the same country. In the previous 19 matches, all officiating teams had the head referee and both assistant referees from the same country. Additionally, Chinese referees Ma Ning (head referee), Fu Ming (VAR referee), and Zhou Fei (assistant referee) have been selected for the World Cup referee list. The source is the FIFA Official Website, reported by Hupu Soccer.
虎扑 - 足球Chinese Referee Fu Ming to Make World Cup Debut as SVAR for Australia vs. Turkey
On June 13, 2026, FIFA announced the officiating team for the 2026 World Cup group stage match between Australia and Turkey. Chinese referee Fu Ming will serve as the Support Video Assistant Referee (SVAR), marking his personal debut as a referee in the World Cup. The head referee is Venezuela's Jesús Valenzuela, with assistants from Venezuela and Peru. The video assistant referee team includes Nicaragua's Tatiana Guzmán as VAR and Venezuela's Juan Soto as AVAR. Fu Ming becomes the first Chinese referee to officiate in this World Cup, which is considered a great honor for Chinese football and the refereeing community.
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