India’s presence in global football officiating has grown stronger, with three more referees—one of them a woman—earning a place on the prestigious FIFA Referees List for 2026. The development was confirmed by the All India Football Federation on Wednesday.
New Names on FIFA’s International Panel
Rachana Hasmukhbhai Kamani from Gujarat has been included in the FIFA list of women referees for 2026. Joining her on the men’s list are Ashwin Kumar from Puducherry and Aditya Purkayastha from Delhi. Their induction marks another step forward for Indian match officials on the international stage governed by FIFA.
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According to the federation, Ashwin Kumar and Aditya Purkayastha have successfully completed the AFC Referee Academy course in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Kamani is currently undergoing the same elite training programme, which prepares referees for international assignments.
Two More Indians Added as Assistant Referees
India’s tally rose further with two officials being named as FIFA Assistant Referees. Muralitharan Pandurangan from Puducherry and Peter Christopher from Maharashtra were also inducted into the international panel, reflecting the growing depth of officiating talent in the country.
India’s FIFA Match Officials for 2026
With these additions, India now has 19 match officials on the FIFA International List for 2026. The list includes referees, assistant referees, and a futsal referee, showcasing representation across formats of the game.
Referees:
Venkatesh R, Harish Kundu, Senthil Nathan Sekaran, Crystal John, Ashwin Kumar, Aditya Purkayastha, Ranjita Devi Tekcham, Rachana Hasmukhbhai Kamani
Assistant Referees:
Vairamuthu Parasuraman, Sumanta Dutta, Arun Sasidharan Pillai, Ujjal Halder, Muralitharan Pandurangan, Dipesh Manohar Sawant, Sourav Sarkar, Peter Christopher, Riiohlang Dhar, Elangbam Debala Devi
Futsal Referee:
Vishal Mahendrabhai Vaja
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A Boost for Indian Officiating
The expanded representation underlines India’s steady progress in referee development and international recognition. With more officials gaining exposure through FIFA and AFC pathways, Indian refereeing continues to move closer to the global mainstream.
