Five more Indian match officials have been added to the FIFA International List for 2026, boosting India's representation to 19. This includes three referees and two assistant referees, with notable achievements in recent training programs. The All India Football Federation announced the inclusions on December 31, 2025.
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) revealed on December 31, 2025, that five additional Indian officials have earned spots on the FIFA International List of Match Officials for 2026. This development underscores the growing prowess of Indian refereeing on the global stage.
Among the new additions are referees Rachana Hasmukhbhai Kamani from Gujarat, who joins the women's category; Ashwin Kumar from Puducherry; and Aditya Purkayastha from Delhi. Kamani is currently participating in the AFC Referee Academy course in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, while Kumar and Purkayastha have already completed it successfully.
Complementing the referees are two new assistant referees: Muralitharan Pandurangan from Puducherry and Peter Christopher from Maharashtra. With these inclusions, India now boasts eight referees, ten assistant referees, and one futsal referee on the list.
The full roster of Indian referees includes Venkatesh R., Harish Kundu, Senthil Nathan Sekaran, Crystal John, Ashwin Kumar, Aditya Purkayastha, Ranjita Devi Tekcham, and Rachana Hasmukhbhai Kamani. Assistant referees are Vairamuthu Parasuraman, Sumanta Dutta, Arun Sasidharan Pillai, Ujjal Halder, Muralitharan Pandurangan, Dipesh Manohar Sawant, Sourav Sarkar, Christopher Peter, Riiohlang Dhar, and Elangbam Debala Devi. Vishal Mahendrabhai Vaja serves as the futsal referee.
This expanded presence reflects steady progress through structured training under AFC and FIFA frameworks, enhancing India's role in international football officiating ahead of major events like the 2026 World Cup.
