FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022: A Groundbreaking Tournament for Referees

They say the sign of a good referee is when you don’t notice them. However, the run-up to the Qatar World Cup has been notable for officials and refereeing in a number of ways. The story that has generated most headlines is the fact that after 92 years there will be three women refereeing World Cup matches for the very first time.

Nationality: French

Age at World Cup: 39

2014 - Becomes first woman to referee in Ligue 2

2015 - Referees at FIFA Women’s World Cup

2019 - Takes charge of UEFA Super Cup Final between Chelsea and Liverpool

2019 - Referee for FIFA Women’s World Cup Final between the USA & the Netherlands

2020 - Officiates Juventus v Dynamo Kyiv Champions League clash

Nationality: Japanese

Age at World Cup: 36

2019 - All-female team officiates a continental men’s match in Asia (AFC Cup)

2019 - Referees at FIFA Women’s World Cup

2021 - First woman to officiate a J. League game

2021 - Referees at Olympic Games

2022 - First woman to referee an AFC Champions League match

Nationality: Rwandan

Age at World Cup: 34

2016 - Referees at African Women’s Cup of Nations

2017 - Officiated the world's highest-altitude match on Mount Kilimanjaro

2021 - Referees at the Olympic Games

2022 - First woman to take charge of a men’s African Cup of Nations match

So, what qualities will Salima Mukansanga bring to the game? According to Ghanaian sports journalist, Ayishatu Zakaria Ali, Mukansanga’s refereeing style is “tough” but fair.

“People assume that because she is a female, they want her to be soft. They expect her to be more lenient. Salima’s a top referee. Very confident. There’s already the pressure of being a female referee but she’s never disappointed me. She’s a great referee in my view.”

Ayishatu Zakaria Ali also believes that the impact of Salima