Rio de janeiro: Chairman of the Referees Committee of the Qatar Football Association (QFA) and Vice Chairman of the FIFA Referees Committee, Hani Taleb Ballan, is participating in overseeing the Preparatory Referee Course for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This course is specific to the North and South American confederations, bringing together 24 referees, alongside teams of experts covering the technical, physical, medical, and psychological aspects.

According to Qatar News Agency, also overseeing the course alongside Ballan are Chairman of the FIFA Referees Committee, Italian Pierluigi Collina, and Director of the FIFA Refereeing Department, Swiss Massimo Busacca. The course is underway from January 12-18 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, as part of FIFA's Referees Committee program to prepare and evaluate match officials through a series of courses ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

This course is one of three key approved programs conducted as part of the final preparations and evaluations ahead of the upcoming World Cup. Two other courses are poised to take place in the coming period: one in Doha from Feb. 23-27, 2026, for Asia, Africa, and Oceania, and the other in Dubai, UAE, from March 2-6 for Europe.

The course also comprises an integrated program of theoretical lectures, practical applications, and tests. The World Cup finals are set to be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, 2026.