The 2026 World Cup will place huge pressure on referees as FIFA prepares to introduce several major rule changes during the tournament.
Officials will clamp down harder on time-wasting, player confrontations and controversial set-piece tactics throughout the competition.
Referees will now use five-second countdowns for throw-ins and goal kicks, while players who cover their mouths during heated confrontations could receive immediate red cards.
Outfield players will also no longer enter the technical area if their goalkeeper goes down for treatment.
The stricter rules have already become one of the major talking points ahead of the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Meanwhile, Premier League referees Michael Oliver and Anthony Taylor will both take charge of matches during the competition.
Both officials will also hope to follow Howard Webb by eventually refereeing a World Cup final.
Now, former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg has revealed how much officials could reportedly earn during the tournament.
Speaking on the Whistleblowers Podcast, Clattenburg claimed referees involved in the latter stages of the World Cup could receive more than £50,000. Clattenburg said:
“I will tell you what the wage was around the World Cup in 2018 because it hasn’t really gone up much. The more successful referees would have earned around €60,000 at Euro 2016.”
He also explained that referees receive additional payments for handling matches in the latter stages of major tournaments. He added:
“You got slightly more for the final and the latter stages. I think they’ve gone down the route of so much per match, but if you get the final it works out somewhere between $60,000 and $70,000.”
Clattenburg also stated that referees receive daily allowances throughout the competition.
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