As FIFA continues to announce officiating crews for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, many fans have noticed that some referee teams consist entirely of officials from the same country. That has also raised another question: Can the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) officials also be from the same country?
The answer is yes. FIFA regulations allow the VAR team to come from the same country, provided none of the officials are from either of the two competing nations.
Can All VAR Officials Be From the Same Country?
Yes. Just like the referee and assistant referees on the field, FIFA may appoint an entire VAR crew from one national football association.
There is no requirement that VAR officials represent different countries. FIFA’s appointments are based on experience, performance during the tournament, and neutrality—not nationality diversity.
Why Does FIFA Sometimes Mix VAR Teams?
Although FIFA can assign all VAR officials from the same country, it frequently chooses multinational VAR crews during the World Cup.
Unlike on-field referees, who benefit from years of working together as a team, VAR officials operate from the centralized Video Operation Room (VOR) using standardized communication protocols. This allows FIFA to combine experienced officials from different associations without affecting performance.
As a result, it’s common to see:
- An on-field referee crew from one country.
- A VAR team made up of officials from several different countries.
What Are FIFA’s Rules for VAR Officials?
The most important requirement is neutrality.
FIFA ensures that:
- VAR officials are not from either of the competing nations.
- Officials are selected based on their experience with VAR technology.
- Assignments are made according to tournament performance and overall officiating quality.
As long as there is no conflict of interest, FIFA has complete flexibility in choosing whether the VAR crew comes from one country or multiple countries.
How Are VAR Officials Selected?
FIFA evaluates VAR appointments using several factors, including:
- Experience with the Video Assistant Referee system.
- Performance in previous FIFA and international competitions.
- Accuracy and consistency throughout the tournament.
- Ability to communicate effectively with the referee on the field.
The goal is to assign the most qualified officials to each match, regardless of nationality.
Final Thoughts
Yes, VAR officials can all come from the same country at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. FIFA is not required to use multinational VAR teams, although it often does so based on the tournament’s officiating needs. The only strict rule is that none of the VAR officials can be from either of the teams participating in the match.
Whether FIFA selects an all-national VAR crew or a multinational team, the priority remains the same: ensuring experienced, neutral, and highly qualified officials oversee every World Cup match.