Vietnam will field 22 FIFA accredited referees and assistants in 2026
The Vietnamese refereeing body reaches a new level on the international scene. The Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) has indeed announced that the country will have 22 FIFA accredited referees and assistants in 2026. This prestigious list consists of 5 referees and 7 assistants for men’s football; 3 referees and 3 assistants for women’s football; 4 futsal referees.
e place in the latest FIFA world ranking”>>> Vietnam progresses to 111e place in the latest FIFA world rankings
>> The FIFA ASEAN Cup, a turning point for regional football
>> AFC Nations League proposes expanding opportunities for Vietnam
| L’arbitre Do Khanh Nam. |
| Photo : CTV/CVN |
Among the rising figures, the young Dô Khanh Nam stands out as one of the country’s greatest hopes. Graduating from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Referee Academy in March 2025, he has shown meteoric progress. Regularly featured in the V.League, he distinguished himself by his reading of the game and the accuracy of his decision-making under pressure.
Assistant referee Lê Trân Nghia obtained his first FIFA badge. An emblematic figure of the V.League, he has accumulated extensive experience, demonstrating a great capacity for collaboration within refereeing teams and systematically meeting the rigorous physical and professional demands of refereeing.
The year 2026 marks a technological turning point for Vietnamese football with the very first recognition by FIFA of two male video assistant referees (VAR): Ngô Duy Lân and Nguyên Trung Hâu. This official accreditation validates the country’s expertise in the use of video assistance, which has become essential during modern international competitions.
VNA/CVN
