“Not A One-Time Thing”: Tom Sets Bold Target Beyond 2026 World Cup

South African referee Abongile Tom has made it clear that he does not want the 2026 FIFA World Cup to be his only appearance on football’s biggest stage, expressing his ambition to officiate at future editions of the tournament.

The FIFA-accredited referee has been selected as part of the officiating team for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico from 11 June to 19 July.

The appointment marks a significant milestone in Tom’s career, as it will be his first time officiating at a FIFA World Cup. He has previously taken charge of major continental competitions, including the CAF Champions League and the Africa Cup of Nations.

Speaking about his selection, Tom described the achievement as a dream come true. He revealed that he was initially in disbelief when he received the call informing him of his appointment.

“This is a dream come true for me,” said Tom.

“The call came through while I was in Algeria on a CAF assignment. The email arrived, but I was not really focused on it, to be honest, because I had a task that I needed to take care of. It all felt a bit unbelievable. As more information came through and the media started talking about it, I realised that it was actually happening.”

The 34-year-old, who has officiated three cup finals in the PSL, including the MTN8 final between Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates during the 2023/24 season, added:

“When I landed in South Africa, it really started to sink in. When my family came through, it became a reality that this was actually happening. The dream is finally coming true.”

Tom also expressed his desire to officiate at future FIFA World Cups.

“But it shouldn’t stop with the one we are going to now. For me, the goal is to officiate at the next World Cup and the one after that as well,” he said.