A total of 129 match officials that will oversee the 22nd edition of the FIFA World Cup have arrived at the referee’s training camp in Qatar.
The officials were welcomed by the FIFA president, Gianni Infantino who told them that there will no be no world cup without them.
The officials include 36 center referees, 69 assistant referees and 24 video match officials.
“You are FIFA’s team. You are our team and you are actually the most important team in the tournament because without you there is no football; there is no FIFA World Cup,” President Infantino said.
In his speech, the President pointed out the importance of unity, and encouraged participants to both savour the moment and to believe in themselves.
“You will feel a lot during this World Cup. The emotion of being part of this adventure. The emotion of having four or five billion people all over the world looking at what is happening here. And you are asked to be there, to be fit, to be ready, to take decisions, to take responsibility in a very short time. You are the best in the world. That’s why you’re here,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Stars and Stripes of the United States of America are the first national team to arrive Qatar ahead of the tournament which kicks off on November 20th.
The USA – a co-host of the FIFA World Cup in 2026 – will feature at their 11th FIFA World Cup in 2022, with their best result in the tournament coming in the inaugural edition in Uruguay in 1930 when they finished third.
