Uzbek referees to officiate at FIFA World Cup 2026

FIFA has officially announced the list of match officials for the upcoming 2026 World Cup, with an Uzbek refereeing trio selected to officiate matches at the tournament. Ilgiz Tantashev has been appointed as a main referee, joined by assistant referees Andrey Tsapenko and Timur Gaynullin.

Photo: UFA

The trio will travel to the United States, Canada, and Mexico to participate in the expanded tournament, which is scheduled to run from June 11 to July 19, 2026. Tantashev is among 52 elite officials worldwide selected by FIFA to take charge of the competition's fixtures.

Ilgiz Tantashev, 42, originally from Bukhara, began his professional career as an assistant referee before transitioning to a head referee in the Uzbekistan Championship. His expertise has led to invitations to officiate in international leagues, including the top divisions of Saudi Arabia and India. A FIFA referee since 2013, Tantashev made his international debut in 2014 and has since built an extensive resume, officiating in the AFC Cup, the AFC Champions League, and several editions of the AFC U-23 Asian Cup (2016, 2020, and 2022).

Recognized as Uzbekistan's best referee of 2021, Tantashev’s experience also includes the Asian Cups in 2019 and 2023. In 2024, he was selected for the Paris Olympic Games. During the high-stakes semifinal match between Morocco and Spain, he gained international attention after being forced to withdraw in the 12th minute due to a collision with defender Marc Pubill, which resulted in an injury.