How much referees are paid at World Cup 2026: Tournament base earnings: Referees chosen for this summer's World Cup 2026 are set to pocket up to $100,000, equivalent to around £75,000 , before bonuses are taken into account.
A set fee will be paid to each lead match official simply for being selected and taking part in the tournament.
Salary increase: The pay package for the 2026 tournament represents a substantial uplift in remuneration compared to previous editions.
This baseline figure is roughly double what lead match officials were paid over a decade ago at the World Cup 2014 in Brazil.
Knockout stage bonuses: On top of their guaranteed baseline fee, match officials stand to receive lucrative performance-related bonuses as the tournament advances.
