Ghana’s top referee Daniel Laryea misses out on 2026 World Cup list

Ghanaian referee Daniel Nii Laryea has been left out of the list of officials selected for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, in a decision that has come as a surprise to many within the football community.

‎Laryea, widely regarded as Ghana’s most prominent match official, was not included among the referees announced by FIFA for the tournament, which will be hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico from June to July 2026.

‎Seven referees from Africa were named in the final selection, representing countries including Algeria, Morocco, Egypt and South Africa, but none from Ghana. His omission means the country will have no on-field officiating representative at the global showpiece.

‎The 37-year-old has been a FIFA-listed referee since 2014 and has officiated at major continental competitions, including the Africa Cup of Nations, underlining his experience on the international stage.

‎His recent performance at the 2025 AFCON semi-final between Nigeria and Morocco drew mixed reactions, while the tournament itself saw several officiating decisions come under scrutiny.

‎Globally, high-profile referees such as Michael Oliver and Anthony Taylor headline the list of selected officials, with Brazil providing the highest number of referees overall.

‎The decision is seen as a setback for Ghanaian officiating, particularly given Laryea’s standing and consistent presence on FIFA’s international referees list in recent years.