It’s no secret: the World Cup is a real gold mine for Fifa, the players, the coaches… And the referees!
The Football World Cup remains FIFA’s flagship event every time and the figures prove it. This year, it could even generate some $11 billion in revenue, becoming the most profitable competition in the history of sport.
If the teams and players will hit the jackpot, the referees will also leave this international competition with nice amounts. This year, the remuneration of the 170 selected referees has been increased… And not just a little! According to the magazine The Times, “wages have doubled since the 2014 World Cup”. Thus, the referees will all receive a base of 100,000 dollars, or approximately 86,000 euros, for their participation in the 2026 World Cup. This is 26,000 euros more than in Qatar four years ago!
A record salary to which some may even add bonuses in the event of participation in the knockout phase, that is to say from the round of 16 of the competition. You will have understood that the very divisive Uzbek referee Ilgiz Tantashev, lynched all over the world for his catastrophic refereeing of the match between France and Paraguay, also received quite a bit of money… Still according to The Timesthe best referees, those who make it to the final stages, could pocket an additional 376,000 euros. The jackpot!
But what can you buy with that World Cup referee salary? With the minimum salary alone, referees could, for example, afford one of the cars from the collection of Argentine player Lionel Messi: the Tesla Model S. It is a vehicle estimated at around $100,000.
To referee at the World Cup, an official must first be registered on the FIFA international list and have solid experience of major continental matches. FIFA selects the elite following a three-year follow-up, based on in-depth theoretical exams and very demanding athletic physical tests. Finally, absolute neutrality is required, prohibiting any referee from directing a match involving his own country.
