Women’s U-17 World Cup in Morocco: 54 Referees and Updated Technical Qualifications
The Refereeing Committee of FIFA announced on Thursday the list of referees who will officiate the Women’s U-17 World Cup, set to take place in Morocco from October 17 to November 8, 2025. The list includes 54 referees, comprising 18 central referees and 36 assistant referees, representing 36 national federations.
This edition marks the first of its kind with the participation of 24 teams, opening a new chapter in the development of women’s football in Morocco, which will host the tournament for five consecutive editions. Pierluigi Collina, Chairman of the FIFA Refereeing Committee, asserted that this event has a “unique flavor,” highlighting that it represents an important learning opportunity for both players and referees.
One of the notable innovations of this edition is the integration of the Video Support Refereeing system (VSR) instead of the traditional VAR technology. This low-cost system allows coaches, and by extension players, to request a limited number of reviews in specific cases such as goals, penalty kicks, red cards, or mistaken identity of the offender, without the need for a specialized VAR team.
Babiana Steinhaus-Weber, FIFA’s women’s refereeing official, indicated that this technology, along with the expanded number of participating teams, will enhance the capabilities of referees and broaden the reach of women’s football in Morocco.
This global event is expected to be a pivotal step in the evolution of women’s football in Africa by providing an international platform for talented players and professional development for referees, aiming to elevate the overall level of competition.
