When millions tune in for a World Cup match, the players’ fitness is on full display
Midfielder
Averages 11km per match
Referee
12-13km per match
Soccer can involve more running than many other team sports
Midfielders cover the most ground out of all positions, averaging 11km per game at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar
That’s around 107 lengths of the pitch
But one athlete on the field, not belonging to either team, runs just as much
That’s the referee
When a World Cup match turns on a split-second decision in the dying moments, the referee is expected to be in the right place at the right time — no small ask when battling everything from Miami humidity to Mexico City’s lung-busting altitude
While fans focus on players chasing goals, referees are sprinting just as hard, typically covering 12 to 13 kilometres per match according to FIFA — a distance comparable to many outfield players
Player running distances in 2022 FIFA World Cup
Each dot represents a player’s distance in a single match
Chart comparing player running distances at the 2022 FIFA World Cup by position. Midfielders average around 11 km per match, defenders and forwards run 10 km, and goalkeepers cover roughly 4.5 km. A shaded band shows referees typically run between 12 and 13 km, placing their workload on par with midfielders
Over the course of a tournament, that can add up to dozens of kilometres of high-intensity movement for some referees, often in extreme heat, at altitude and under intense psychological pressure
The demands extend beyond simply running. Referees must repeatedly accelerate, decelerate, shuffle sideways and sprint backwards, often in response to sudden counterattacks or rapid shifts in play
Unlike players, referees are required to stay close to the action at all times, constantly adjusting their position to maintain the best viewing angle without interfering with play
Two side-by-side photographs of a referee in the background of player action on the field. The photos start in color and transition on scroll to fade all but the referee to black and white, illustrating that the referee is present for the entire game but rarely the focus of attention
“The referee must always be in the right place at the right moment. We have to go on the pitch every day to prepare this, like top players do,” Director of FIFA Refereeing Massimo Busacca said in a press release following a World Cup referee training camp in January
Referees undergo extensive training and certification, typically progressing through local and national competitions before reaching the international level. The most experienced officials are appointed to elite tournaments such as the FIFA World Cup
FIFA said its 2026 World Cup officials were selected following a process spanning more than three years, during which candidates were identified, monitored and regularly assessed at FIFA tournaments and in domestic and international competitions. The final group includes 52 referees, 88 assistant referees and 30 video match officials from 50 member associations across all six confederations
Sequence of photos following referee Felix Zwayer officiating the USA vs. Australia match in Seattle on June 19, 2026 in 82°F (27°C) heat. The first photos show Zwayer among the action, followed by photos of the referee overseeing an injury and giving out a yellow card. The German referee was kept busy in a physical contest, managing a steady stream of fouls and issuing a flurry of late yellow cards. Like many officials at this World Cup, Zwayer also had to contend with the heat. Photo collage shows fans in the stands with the sun casting a strong shadow and two players on the field standing next to a sprinkler during a hydration break. Near the end of the game, Zwayer went down with muscle cramp. In an unusual role reversal, players from both teams came to the referee’s aid. The last two photos show an Australian team member and an American player stretching Zwayer’s leg as the referee lays on the ground.
Before they can take charge of the world’s biggest matches, referees must pass FIFA’s standard fitness test to officiate at the highest levels of the game
Could you pass the test?
Designed to measure speed and endurance, the test helps ensure officials can keep up with play while maintaining the concentration needed to make split-second decisions
Referees must pass this test, made up of two parts, at least once a year. For women’s matches, the tests are the same but timings differ
Diagram of Part 1 of the FIFA referee fitness test: six 40-meter sprints between a start gate and finish gate, each under 6 seconds, with a one-minute walk back to the start between reps. Referees must complete all six in under 5 minutes 36 seconds to pass
Diagram of Part 2 of the FIFA referee fitness test: 40 intervals on a 100-meter track, alternating 75-meter runs (maximum 15 seconds each) with 25-meter walking recoveries (maximum 18 seconds). Referees must cover 4 km in under 22 minutes
While players prepare in team camps, FIFA’s referees are doing much the same in Miami. The officials follow an athlete-style programme built around tailored nutrition, daily training, video review and recovery, supported by physiotherapists, sports scientists and psychologists
They train in the Florida heat before flying to matches across North America and returning to base. FIFA monitors individual workloads using GPS data, personalised performance records and tailored training plans designed to keep officials physically prepared for the demands of the tournament
Aside from the sheer distance covered, refereeing is a high-intensity job. A review of studies found that high-intensity running accounted for more than a third of total running time, with referees’ heart rates reaching 80% to 100% of their maximum
There is a reason FIFA treats referees as high-performance athletes. Academic research has consistently linked physical fatigue to poorer positioning, narrower viewing angles and slower reaction times, all factors that can increase the risk of critical errors
Photo collage of the 2022 World Cup Final between Argentina and France, tracking referee Szymon Marciniak’s workload from the 6:00 p.m. kickoff through extra time and penalty shootout ending at 8:53 p.m. Annotations mark eight yellow cards, three penalty decisions, six delays for injury, thirteen substitutions, and the fact that Marciniak was on the field for the entire three-hour match
It is not just the referee in the middle of the field whose fitness is key to the efficiency of a match. Assistant referees, the officials stationed along the touchline responsible for offside decisions, throw-ins and monitoring play along the line, may cover less overall distance, typically around 6-8 kilometres, according to a study of referees and assistant referees during the 2022 FIFA World Cup, but their workload is no less demanding
Tracking studies show assistant referees perform more frequent high-intensity sprints, staying tightly aligned with defensive lines and reacting instantly to potential offside calls, a role that demands explosive speed and precise timing under intense scrutiny
Collectively, referees and assistant referees will cover thousands of kilometres over the course of the tournament, all while making split-second decisions that can shape matches and end campaigns
As the tournament’s quarter-finals approach, the spotlight remains on players — but behind every defining moment is a referee racing to keep pace, knowing one whistle can change everything
FIFA
Zhang, L., Geok, S. K., Wazir, M. R. N., & Qin, L. (2025). Physical demands and physiological response of soccer referees in high-level matches: A systematic review. PLOS ONE
Lee, D.-G., Baek, S., & Moon, H.-W. (2025). Study on the physical activity of referees and assistant referees at the 2022 Qatar World Cup: A secondary data-based analysis using FIFA technical reports and peer-reviewed research. Journal of Sport and Art Studies
Photographs
Bernadett Szabo, Carl Recine, Molly Darlington, Paul Childs, Lee Smith, Dylan Martinez, Agustin Marcarian, Albert Gea and Piroschka Van De Wouw/REUTERS
Blake Dahlin and Troy Wayrynen/IMAGN IMAGES
Additional development and reporting
Lori Ewing and Sudev Kiyada
Edited by
Kenneth Ferris
