Albanian woman referee aims for 2026 World Cup

Albanian referee Emanuela Rusta is one of the names aiming to participate in the 2026 World Cup, marking another historic moment for Albanian refereeing on the international stage.

The 32-year-old has been included by FIFA in the extended list of referees selected for the preliminary seminar to be held in February, CE Report quotes ATA.

This seminar represents a very important selection phase, where referees will be evaluated on several key aspects, such as physical preparation, technical knowledge, and the ability to work with the VAR system.

If Rusta successfully passes all tests and evaluations, she will have the golden opportunity to be included in the final list of referees who will officiate matches at the 2026 World Cup.

Recently, Emanuela Rusta was also selected among FIFA’s elite referees, confirming her high professional level and the trust that the world’s highest football institution places in her.

This development further strengthens hopes that Albania will have representation at the World Cup not only on the field but also in refereeing.

As reported by CE Report, an Albanian referee led the Juventus-Pafos match.

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