FIFA leaves Moroccan referees off U-17 Women’s World Cup list despite host status

FIFA leaves Moroccan referees off U-17 Women’s World Cup list despite host status
Friday 1 August 2025 - 12:37

FIFA announced the official roster of referees for the 2025 U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco, but no Moroccan officials were included, despite the kingdom hosting the tournament for the first time in its history.

The list features 54 referees from 36 member associations, including 18 center referees and 36 assistants, who will oversee matches scheduled between October 17 and November 8, 2025.

The absence of Moroccan referees has surprised observers, given the recent rise of women’s football in the country and significant investments in both player development and officiating.

From Africa, six referees were selected, representing Egypt, Senegal, Mauritania, Kenya, and Burundi. Morocco, however, was left out entirely.

FIFA also confirmed that it will deploy its Video Support System (FVS) for the tournament, building on recent trials at the U-20 Women’s World Cup in Colombia and the U-17 edition in the Dominican Republic. The technology is designed to improve officiating accuracy with lower costs than traditional VAR systems.

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