3 Americans, 2 Canadians to officiate Flamingos’ World Cup final
By Tosin Omojola
FIFA has appointed an all-North American officiating team, comprising three Americans and two Canadians, for Saturday’s 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup final between Nigeria and Japan.
The highly anticipated encounter is scheduled to kick off at 7:30 p.m. West African Time (WAT) at Pitch 3 of the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Morocco.
American referee Natalie Simon will take charge of the final, assisted by compatriots Katarzyna Wasiak and Kali Smith.
Canadian officials Carly Shaw-McLaren and Melissa Snedden have been appointed as the fourth official and reserve assistant referee, respectively.
The complete list of match officials is as follows:
- Referee: Natalie Simon (USA)
- Assistant Referee 1: Katarzyna Wasiak (USA)
- Assistant Referee 2: Kali Smith (USA)
- Fourth Official: Carly Shaw-McLaren (Canada)
- Reserve Assistant Referee: Melissa Snedden (Canada)
Saturday’s final presents a historic opportunity for Nigeria’s Flamingos to become the first African nation to win the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
The Nigerian youngsters face a formidable Japanese side, with both teams seeking to lift the prestigious trophy and be crowned world champions.
Having battled their way into the final, the Flamingos are now just one victory away from making history and achieving a landmark triumph for Nigerian and African women’s football.
