Hanoi (VNA) - Vietnam will field 22 FIFA-accredited referees and assistant referees in 2026, comprising five male referees, seven male assistants, three female referees, three female assistants and four futsal referees covering both genders, the Vietnam Football Federation reported.
Among the standouts is Do Khanh Nam, one of the youngest in Vietnam's refereeing ranks. Nam, who graduated from the Asian Football Confederation's Referee Academy in March 2025, has demonstrated great improvement in technical skills and on-field decision-making. He has been regularly assigned to V.League matches and has performed reliably in those roles.
Assistant referee Le Tran Nghia has secured his first FIFA badge. A veteran presence in the V.League, Nghia has accumulated extensive experience, displaying strong collaboration within referee teams and consistently meeting the rigorous physical and professional standards required for match officiating.
A key milestone on the 2026 list is the first-ever recognition of two male video assistant referees (VAR) by FIFA: Ngo Duy Lan and Nguyen Trung Hau. The designation highlights growing expertise among Vietnamese VAR specialists at a time when the technology is becoming central to major international tournaments.
The sustained FIFA accreditation for Vietnamese officials signals ongoing progress in the nation's referee development and positions them for more assignments at global events in the years ahead./.
