Samoa Football is proud to announce that Samoan assistant referee Malaetala Salanoa has been appointed to officiate at the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2026™.
The FIFA Referees Committee has announced the 81 match officials selected for this year’s tournament, with 27 referees and 54 assistant referees representing 36 FIFA Member Associations. The competition will take place in Qatar from 19 November to 13 December 2026.
For Malaetala Salanoa, the appointment marks another significant milestone in his international refereeing career. He will return to the FIFA U-17 World Cup for a second FIFA event, following his involvement at the 2025 edition in Qatar. Samoa Football previously confirmed his appointment as an assistant referee for the 2025 tournament.
Malaetala has continued to build valuable experience at the highest levels of football in Oceania.
In 2026, he has been appointed to a number of major OFC fixtures, including matches in the OFC Pro League, where he has worked alongside leading match officials from across the region.
His selection for a second FIFA U-17 World Cup is a proud achievement for Samoa Football and Samoan refereeing, highlighting the continued development of local match officials and the opportunities available to officials who consistently perform at the international level.
Malaetala will be joined at the tournament by Calvin Berg of New Zealand, who has been appointed as a referee for his first FIFA tournament, while Jeremy Garae of Vanuatu will also return for his second FIFA event.
The FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2026™ will feature 48 teams and 104 matches, with all matches scheduled to be played in the Aspire Zone, apart from the final at Khalifa International Stadium. FIFA has also confirmed that Football Video Support (FVS) will again be used during the tournament.
For Samoa, Malaetala’s appointment is more than an individual achievement. It is another proud moment for our football community and an example of how Samoan match officials continue to represent our country on the world stage.
