When millions tune in for a World Cup match, the players\u2019 fitness is on full display.<\/p>\n
Midfielder<\/p>\n
Averages 11km per match<\/p>\n
Referee<\/p>\n
12-13km per match<\/p>\n
Soccer can involve more running than many other team sports.<\/p>\n
Midfielders cover the most ground out of all positions, averaging 11km per game at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.<\/p>\n
That’s around 107 lengths of the pitch.<\/p>\n
But one athlete on the field, not belonging to either team, runs just as much.<\/p>\n
That’s the referee.<\/p>\n
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 \u2014 no small ask when battling everything from Miami humidity to Mexico City\u2019s lung-busting altitude.<\/p>\n
While fans focus on\u00a0players\u00a0chasing goals, referees are sprinting just as hard, typically covering 12 to 13\u00a0kilometres\u00a0per match according to FIFA \u2014 a distance comparable to many outfield players.<\/p>\n
Player running distances in 2022 FIFA World Cup <\/p>\n
Each dot represents a player\u2019s distance in a single match<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Note: Excludes players in matches that went into extra time.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The referee is on the field for the entire game…<\/p>\n
… but they are rarely the focus.<\/p>\n
The referee is on the field for the entire game…<\/p>\n
The referee is on the field for the entire game…<\/p>\n
… but they are rarely the focus.<\/p>\n
… but they are rarely the focus.<\/p>\n
The referee is on the field for the entire game…<\/p>\n
… but they are rarely the focus.<\/p>\n
The referee is on the field for the entire game…<\/p>\n
… but they are rarely the focus.<\/p>\n
The referee is on the field for the entire game…<\/p>\n
… but they are rarely the focus.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe 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,\u201d Director of FIFA Refereeing Massimo Busacca said in a press release following a World Cup referee training camp in January.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The German referee was kept busy in a physical contest, managing a number of fouls and issuing a flurry of late yellow cards.<\/p>\n
Like many officials at this World Cup, Zwayer also had to contend with the heat.<\/p>\n
With kickoff at noon local time, temperatures reached 82 degrees Fahrenheit (27 degrees Celsius).<\/p>\n
Near the end of the game, Zwayer went down with a muscle cramp. In an unusual role reversal, players from both teams came to the referee’s aid.<\/p>\n
Felix Zwayer brought more than two decades of refereeing experience to his first World Cup match, overseeing the United States vs Australia in Seattle on June 19.<\/p>\n
The German referee was kept busy in a physical contest, managing a number of fouls and issuing a flurry of late yellow cards.<\/p>\n
Like many officials at this World Cup, Zwayer also had to contend with the heat.<\/p>\n
With kickoff at noon local time, temperatures reached 82 degrees Fahrenheit (27 degrees Celsius).<\/p>\n
Near the end of the game, Zwayer went down with a muscle cramp. In an unusual role reversal, players from both teams came to the referee’s aid.<\/p>\n
Felix Zwayer brought more than two decades of refereeing experience to his first World Cup match, overseeing the United States vs Australia in Seattle on June 19.<\/p>\n
The German referee was kept busy in a physical contest, managing a number of fouls and issuing a flurry of late yellow cards.<\/p>\n
Like many officials at this World Cup, Zwayer also had to contend with the heat.<\/p>\n
With kickoff at noon local time, temperatures reached 82 degrees Fahrenheit (27 degrees Celsius).<\/p>\n
Near the end of the game, Zwayer went down with a muscle cramp. In an unusual role reversal, players from both teams came to the referee’s aid.<\/p>\n
Felix Zwayer brought more than two decades of refereeing experience to his first World Cup match, overseeing the United States vs Australia in Seattle on June 19.<\/p>\n
The German referee was kept busy in a physical contest, managing a number of fouls and issuing a flurry of late yellow cards.<\/p>\n
Like many officials at this World Cup, Zwayer also had to contend with the heat.<\/p>\n
With kickoff at noon local time, temperatures reached 82 degrees Fahrenheit (27 degrees Celsius).<\/p>\n
Near the end of the game, Zwayer went down with a muscle cramp. In an unusual role reversal, players from both teams came to the referee’s aid.<\/p>\n
Felix Zwayer brought more than two decades of refereeing experience to his first World Cup match, overseeing the United States vs Australia in Seattle on June 19.<\/p>\n
The German referee was kept busy in a physical contest, managing a number of fouls and issuing a flurry of late yellow cards.<\/p>\n
Like many officials at this World Cup, Zwayer also had to contend with the heat.<\/p>\n
With kickoff at noon local time, temperatures reached 82 degrees Fahrenheit (27 degrees Celsius).<\/p>\n
Near the end of the game, Zwayer went down with a muscle cramp. In an unusual role reversal, players from both teams came to the referee’s aid.<\/p>\n
Felix Zwayer brought more than two decades of refereeing experience to his first World Cup match, overseeing the United States vs Australia in Seattle on June 19.<\/p>\n
Sequence of photos following referee Felix Zwayer officiating the USA vs. Australia match in Seattle on June 19, 2026 in 82\u00b0F (27\u00b0C) 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\u2019s aid. The last two photos show an Australian team member and an American player stretching Zwayer\u2019s leg as the referee lays on the ground.<\/p>\n
Before they can take charge of the world\u2019s biggest matches, referees must pass FIFA\u2019s standard fitness test to officiate at the highest levels of the game.<\/p>\n
Could you pass the test?<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Referees must pass this test, made up of two parts, at least once a year. For women\u2019s matches, the tests are the same but timings differ.<\/p>\n
Start gate<\/p>\n
Timer starts here<\/p>\n
This tests the referee\u2019s ability to perform repeated sprinting. Six 40m sprints with a maximum of one minute to recover after each sprint while walking back to the start. Each must be completed within strict timings.<\/p>\n
A maximum of 8 minutes rest is allowed before the following test.<\/p>\n
Six sprints and recovery<\/p>\n
in less than 5 min 36 sec<\/p>\n
Time limit for<\/p>\n
each section<\/p>\n
Start gate<\/p>\n
Timer starts here<\/p>\n
Time limit for<\/p>\n
each section<\/p>\n
Six sprints and recovery<\/p>\n
in less than 5 min 36 sec<\/p>\n
A maximum of 8 minutes rest is allowed before the following test.<\/p>\n
This tests the referee\u2019s ability to perform repeated sprinting. Six 40m sprints with a maximum of one minute to recover after each sprint while walking back to the start. Each must be completed within strict timings.<\/p>\n
Start gate<\/p>\n
Timer starts here<\/p>\n
A maximum of 8 minutes rest is allowed before the following test.<\/p>\n
This tests the referee\u2019s ability to perform repeated sprinting. Six 40m sprints with a maximum of one minute to recover after each sprint while walking back to the start. Each must be completed within strict timings.<\/p>\n
Time limit for<\/p>\n
each section<\/p>\n
Six sprints and recovery<\/p>\n
in less than 5 min 36 sec<\/p>\n
A maximum of 8 minutes rest is allowed before the following test.<\/p>\n
This tests the referee\u2019s ability to perform repeated sprinting. Six 40m sprints with a maximum of one minute to recover after each sprint while walking back to the start. Each must be completed within strict timings.<\/p>\n
Start gate<\/p>\n
Timer starts here<\/p>\n
A maximum of 8 minutes rest is allowed before the following test.<\/p>\n
This tests the referee\u2019s ability to perform repeated sprinting. Six 40m sprints with a maximum of one minute to recover after each sprint while walking back to the start. Each must be completed within strict timings.<\/p>\n
Six sprints and recovery<\/p>\n
in less than 5 min 36 sec<\/p>\n
Time limit for<\/p>\n
each section<\/p>\n
Start gate<\/p>\n
Timer starts here<\/p>\n
Time limit for<\/p>\n
each section<\/p>\n
Six sprints and recovery<\/p>\n
in less than 5 min 36 sec<\/p>\n
A maximum of 8 minutes rest is allowed before the following test.<\/p>\n
This tests the referee\u2019s ability to perform repeated sprinting. Six 40m sprints with a maximum of one minute to recover after each sprint while walking back to the start. Each must be completed within strict timings.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
40 intervals covering 4 kilometres<\/p>\n
in less than 22 minutes.<\/p>\n
This evaluates the referee\u2019s ability to perform a series of high-speed runs over 75m interspersed with 25m walks.<\/p>\n
40 intervals covering 4 kilometres<\/p>\n
in less than 22 minutes.<\/p>\n
This evaluates the referee\u2019s ability to perform a series of high-speed runs over 75m interspersed with 25m walks.<\/p>\n
40 intervals covering 4 kilometres<\/p>\n
in less than 22 minutes.<\/p>\n
This evaluates the referee\u2019s ability to perform a series of high-speed runs over 75m interspersed with 25m walks.<\/p>\n
40 intervals covering 4 kilometres<\/p>\n
in less than 22 minutes.<\/p>\n
This evaluates the referee\u2019s ability to perform a series of high-speed runs over 75m interspersed with 25m walks.<\/p>\n
This evaluates the referee\u2019s ability to perform a series of high-speed runs over 75m interspersed with 25m walks.<\/p>\n
40 intervals covering 4 kilometres<\/p>\n
in less than 22 minutes.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
While players prepare in team camps, FIFA\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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\u2019 heart rates reaching 80% to 100% of their maximum.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Marciniak doled out eight yellow cards, seven of which were in the second half and extra time.<\/p>\n
Thuram went down but Marciniak deemed it a simulation.<\/p>\n
The 2022 FIFA World Cup final between Argentina and France was a prime example of a long, active game that tested the endurance of the players and officials.<\/p>\n
The game was delayed six times due to injury. Marciniak was involved in managing the situations.<\/p>\n
Marciniak made three important penalty decisions in the game.<\/p>\n
Szymon Marciniak was the on-field referee.<\/p>\n
All three penalties were converted into goals, highlighting the weight of these calls.<\/p>\n
After seven penalty shots he had to manage a situation with goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, who was shown a yellow card for gamesmanship.<\/p>\n
The referee restores order and oversees the final penalty, which Argentina score.<\/p>\n
The game lasted around 3 hours. There were 13 substitutions, but Marciniak was on the field for the entire game.<\/p>\n
Szymon Marciniak was the on-field referee.<\/p>\n
Thuram went down but Marciniak deemed it a simulation.<\/p>\n
Marciniak doled out eight yellow cards, seven of which were in the second half and extra time.<\/p>\n
The 2022 FIFA World Cup final between Argentina and France was a prime example of a long, active game that tested the endurance of the players and officials.<\/p>\n
The game was delayed six times due to injury. Marciniak was involved in managing the situations.<\/p>\n
Marciniak made three important penalty decisions in the game.<\/p>\n
The referee restores order and oversees the final penalty, which Argentina score.<\/p>\n
All three penalties were converted into goals, highlighting the weight of these calls.<\/p>\n
After seven penalty shots he had to manage a situation with goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, who was shown a yellow card for gamesmanship.<\/p>\n
The game lasted around 3 hours. There were 13 substitutions, but Marciniak was on the field for the entire game.<\/p>\n
All three penalties were converted into goals, highlighting the weight of these calls.<\/p>\n
Szymon Marciniak was the on-field referee.<\/p>\n
Thuram went down but Marciniak deemed it a simulation.<\/p>\n
Marciniak doled out eight yellow cards, seven of which were in the second half and extra time.<\/p>\n
The 2022 FIFA World Cup final between Argentina and France was a prime example of a long, active game that tested the endurance of the players and officials.<\/p>\n
The game was delayed six times due to injury. Marciniak was involved in managing the situations.<\/p>\n
Marciniak made three important penalty decisions in the game.<\/p>\n
The referee restores order and oversees the final penalty, which Argentina score.<\/p>\n
After seven penalty shots he had to manage a situation with goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, who was shown a yellow card for gamesmanship.<\/p>\n
The game lasted around 3 hours. There were 13 substitutions, but Marciniak was on the field for the entire game.<\/p>\n
Marciniak made three important penalty decisions in the game.<\/p>\n
All three penalties were converted into goals, highlighting the weight of these calls.<\/p>\n
Szymon Marciniak was the on-field referee.<\/p>\n
Marciniak doled out eight yellow cards, seven of which were in the second half and extra time.<\/p>\n
Thuram went down but Marciniak deemed it a simulation.<\/p>\n
The 2022 FIFA World Cup final between Argentina and France was a prime example of a long, active game that tested the endurance of the players and officials.<\/p>\n
The game was delayed six times due to injury. Marciniak was involved in managing the situations.<\/p>\n
The referee restores order and oversees the final penalty, which Argentina score.<\/p>\n
After seven penalty shots he had to manage a situation with goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, who was shown a yellow card for gamesmanship.<\/p>\n
The game lasted around 3 hours. There were 13 substitutions, but Marciniak was on the field for the entire game.<\/p>\n
Szymon Marciniak was the on-field referee.<\/p>\n
Marciniak made three important penalty decisions in the game.<\/p>\n
All three penalties were converted into goals, highlighting the weight of these calls.<\/p>\n
The 2022 FIFA World Cup final between Argentina and France was a prime example of a long, active game that tested the endurance of the players and officials.<\/p>\n
Marciniak doled out eight yellow cards, seven of which were in the second half and extra time.<\/p>\n
Thuram went down but Marciniak deemed it a simulation.<\/p>\n
After seven penalty shots he had to manage a situation with goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, who was shown a yellow card for gamesmanship.<\/p>\n
The game was delayed six times due to injury. Marciniak was involved in managing the situations.<\/p>\n
The referee restores order and oversees the final penalty, which Argentina score.<\/p>\n
The game lasted around 3 hours. There were 13 substitutions, but Marciniak was on the field for the entire game.<\/p>\n
Photo collage of the 2022 World Cup Final between Argentina and France, tracking referee Szymon Marciniak\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
As the tournament\u2019s quarter-finals approach, the spotlight\u00a0remains\u00a0on players \u2014 but behind every defining moment is a referee racing to keep pace, knowing one whistle can change everything.<\/p>\n
FIFA<\/p>\n
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.\u00a0PLOS ONE.<\/p>\n
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.\u00a0Journal of Sport and Art Studies<\/p>\n
Bernadett Szabo, Carl Recine, Molly Darlington, Paul Childs, Lee Smith, Dylan Martinez, Agustin Marcarian, Albert Gea and Piroschka Van De Wouw\/REUTERS<\/p>\n
Blake Dahlin and Troy Wayrynen\/IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters<\/p>\n
Additional development and reporting<\/p>\n
Lori Ewing and Sudev Kiyada<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"When millions tune in for a World Cup match, the players\u2019 fitness is on full display. Midfielder Averages…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":531926,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[26453,85,27148,46,27147,27146,105],"class_list":["post-531925","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-sports","tag-graphics","tag-il","tag-interactives","tag-israel","tag-reuters","tag-reuters-graphics","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/531925","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=531925"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/531925\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/531926"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=531925"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=531925"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=531925"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}