South African referee Abongile Tom has been appointed as the fourth official for the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group E match between Germany and Curaçao on Sunday, 14 June.
Kick-off at the Houston Stadium in Texas is at 19:00 (SA time).
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High-profile fixture
The appointment sees Tom, still only 34 years old, join the officiating team for one of the tournament’s early high-profile fixtures as four-time world champions Germany begin their campaign against a Curaçao side making a rare appearance on football’s biggest stage.
The match will be officiated by Moroccan referee Jalal Jayed, assisted by fellow countrymen Zakaria Brinssi and Mostafa Akarkad.
Tom will serve as fourth official, a role that includes overseeing technical and administrative duties on the touchline, monitoring substitutions, managing the technical areas and assisting the referee team with match operations throughout the contest.
Recognition for Rising South African Official
The World Cup appointment represents another significant milestone in Abongile Tom’s refereeing career and underlines FIFA’s confidence in the South African official.
Tom has steadily established himself as one of Africa’s leading referees in recent years through consistent performances in domestic competitions, CAF tournaments and international fixtures.
His selection for the expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup officiating panel reflects the growing recognition of his abilities at the highest level of the game.
South African Presence at the World Cup
Abongile Tom’s appointment provides South Africa with representation among the tournament’s match officials and continues the country’s proud tradition of producing referees trusted to officiate on the global stage.
South African officials have regularly featured in major FIFA and CAF competitions, with Tom now adding his name to a list of referees who have represented the country at elite international tournaments.
The Germany-Curaçao clash forms part of the opening round of group-stage fixtures in the expanded 2026 World Cup, which features more teams, more matches and a broader pool of match officials than previous editions.
Germany will enter the tournament seeking to make a strong start as they chase a fifth World Cup title, while Curaçao will be looking to make history against one of world football’s traditional powerhouses.
Tom is the lone South African among the 52 referees FIFA selected for this year’s World Cup.
Meanwhile, Zakhele Siwela is the only South African among the 88 assistant referees for the tournament.
