A Grandfather’s Tears and a Career Peak: Bram Van Driessche Named as VAR for 2026 World Cup

For Bram Van Driessche, the moment of realization didn’t happen in a boardroom or through a formal letter. It happened on a phone call, just minutes before the first whistle of a Conference League match between Rayo Vallecano and AEK Athens. The news was simple but life-changing: Van Driessche had been selected as a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) for the upcoming FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

The emotional weight of the appointment hit home immediately. Before stepping onto the pitch for his professional duties, Van Driessche made two calls: one to his wife and one to his 95-year-old grandfather. On the other complete of the line, the elderly man was moved to tears.

“My 95-year-old grandfather was on the line with tears in his eyes,” Van Driessche recalled. The connection is deeply personal; throughout the early stages of his career, from youth football to the first provincial level, his grandfather and late grandmother were the ones who drove him to every single football field.

The Road to North America

Securing a spot at the World Cup is a grueling process of elimination. Van Driessche is one of only 30 Video Match Officials selected for the tournament this summer. While he had a feeling the opportunity might come—having already managed 16 Champions League matches as a VAR this season—the uncertainty remained until the final confirmation.

“It is always a nervous wait because the places are limited,” he said. For the Belgian official, the appointment represents the pinnacle of the profession. “Here’s the highest you can achieve. As a child, you can only dream of this.”

The selection is a testament to his steady ascent through the ranks of European officiating. Van Driessche has been active as a referee since 2001, eventually debuting in the Jupiler Pro League during the 2015/2016 season. His trajectory accelerated in July 2017 when he signed a semi-professional contract with the Royal Belgian Football Association (KBVB), leading to his appointment to the FIFA list in 2019.

Balancing the Whistle and the Boardroom

One of the more compelling aspects of Van Driessche’s journey is the duality of his professional life. Unlike many top-tier officials in the modern era who move toward full-time specialization, Van Driessche maintains a career outside of football, serving as an account manager for an international chemistry company.

This balance of corporate discipline and sporting pressure has served him well. His resume includes high-stakes assignments, such as officiating the Belgian Cup final between Standard Liège and KRC Genk on April 25, 2021, and a variety of international youth and club fixtures across Europe.

For global readers, the VAR role is critical in the modern game. As the “eye in the sky,” the VAR monitors every angle of the pitch to assist the head referee on goals, penalties, direct red cards, and mistaken identity. In a tournament as massive as the World Cup, where a single decision can define a nation’s sporting history, the pressure on these 30 officials is immense.

Looking Ahead to the Summer

As the football world prepares for the spectacle in North America, Van Driessche joins the Belgian contingent heading across the Atlantic. While the Belgian national team, the Red Devils, will be fighting for glory on the pitch, Van Driessche will be ensuring the integrity of the game from the VAR booth.

Despite the prestige, Van Driessche admitted that the reality of the situation is still sinking in. His immediate focus remained on the Conference League match at the time of the news, but the legacy of those early drives to local fields with his grandparents has now culminated in the world’s biggest sporting stage.

The 2026 World Cup will see matches spread across three nations, introducing unique travel and climate challenges for officials. Van Driessche’s experience in the Champions League will be vital as he navigates the high-intensity environment of the tournament.

Bram Van Driessche will now begin final preparations for his journey to the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Further details regarding specific match assignments are expected to be released by FIFA as the tournament draws closer.

Do you think VAR has improved the fairness of the World Cup, or does it seize away from the spirit of the game? Let us know in the comments.