Premier League referees selected for FIFA World Cup finals

Thomas Tuchel and his Three Lions won't be the only English representation at this summer's World Cup, after two of the Premier League's leading referees were named among the officials heading to the finals in June. 

Both Anthony Taylor and Michael Oliver have been selected to officiate in the US, Canada and Mexico, as two of 52 referees who will be part of the competition. 

It's a second tournament for both Taylor and Oliver, having both experienced a World Cup in Qatar four years ago. 

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They will be joined by four assistant referees at the tournament, with England's Gary Beswick, Adam Nunn, Stuart Burt and James Mainwaring making up part of the officiating team. Australian Jarred Gillett, who's been refereeing in the Premier League since 2021, will act as part of the VAR team.

FIFA has said their choice was "based on quality and consistency of performances at the highest level", and the pool for 2026 also includes six female officials, the same as at Qatar 2022. 

For the first time at a World Cup, referees will wear body cameras to give viewers an on-field perspective, with Pierluigi Collina, FIFA's chief refereeing officer and chairman of the FIFA referees committee, also saying that the use of goal-line technology and an advanced version of semi-automated offside will also have an important role at proceedings in North America. 

The chosen officials will meet for a 10-day preparation seminar next month as they get ready to have the world's eyes on them across the month of action on football's biggest stage. 

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