The FIFA Referees Committee has unveiled the list of officials selected to oversee matches at the upcoming FIFA U-20 World Cup Chile 2025, scheduled to run from September 27 to October 19.
In total, 54 match officials—comprising 18 referees and 36 assistant referees from 22 FIFA member associations—have been appointed to officiate at the tournament.
Chairman of the FIFA Referees Committee, Pierluigi Collina, expressed optimism ahead of the event, stating:
“Following the success of the FIFA Club World Cup, we’re excited for another dynamic tournament. This is a great opportunity for officials to gain experience working with the next generation of football stars and to further test the Football Video Support (FVS) system, which has already shown great promise.”
The Football Video Support (FVS) system—an alternative to the traditional VAR (Video Assistant Referee)—will be used at the tournament. Unlike VAR, FVS does not employ dedicated video officials. Instead, it allows team head coaches a limited number of review requests during matches for key decisions such as goals, penalties, red cards, and mistaken identity. Players can also recommend reviews to their coaches.
This latest FVS trial builds on tests from the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Colombia and the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in the Dominican Republic.
Massimo Busacca, FIFA’s Director of Refereeing, emphasized the importance of the tournament in building a refereeing legacy:
“Chile is a passionate football nation. The FIFA U-20 World Cup is a demanding tournament, and it’s the perfect stage to showcase officiating talent with a strong understanding of the game.”
