Two South African Referees Selected For Germany’s 2026 World Cup Opener

South African referee Abongile Tom and his compatriot Zakhele Siwela have been appointed to officiate the opening 2026 FIFA World Cup Group E match between Germany and Curaçao.

The South African duo arrived at the global showpiece fresh off their officiating duties at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, where they were entrusted with several high-profile matches.

The Group E encounter is scheduled to take place at Houston Stadium on Sunday. Tom will serve as the fourth official, while Siwela has been appointed as the reserve assistant referee.

They will work alongside fellow African match officials from Morocco: Jalal Jayed has been selected as the match referee, with Zakaria Brinsi and Mostafa Akrad serving as the first and second assistant referees, respectively.

The match promises to be a fascinating contest, as Curaçao is set to make its historic FIFA World Cup debut. The Caribbean nation will be eager to make an immediate impact on football’s biggest stage and begin its campaign on a positive note.

Germany, meanwhile, will be aiming to draw closer to Brazil’s record of five FIFA World Cup titles. The Germans have won the tournament four times and hold the record for the most World Cup final appearances, having reached the title match eight times—one more than Brazil.

Germany also holds one of the most memorable records of the modern World Cup era following their emphatic 7-1 victory over hosts Brazil in the semi-finals of the 2014 tournament—a result that remains one of the most remarkable matches in football history.