A total of 129 referees, assistant referees and video match officials overseeing the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 arrived in Qatar on Thursday, November 10.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino welcomed the officials a day later, on Friday, November 11, as they officially started their training camp.
Infantino informed the group that they were the most important team at the quadrennial football event.
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“You are FIFA’s team. You are our team and the most important team in the tournament because, without you, there is no football or FIFA World Cup.
“We need Team One to enter the pitch first. We need Team One to kick off the first game on November 20, and we need Team One to stop the last game and award the title to the World Champions,” Infantino noted.
Infantino pointed out there were six women for the first time in the tournament's history who will be part of the team.
The world football body president informed the officials they would feel a lot and the emotions are part of the adventure.
“The emotion of having four or five billion people all over the world looking at what is happening here.
"And you are asked to be there, to be fit, to be ready, to take decisions, to take responsibility in a very short time. You are the best in the world. That is why you are here,” Infantino added.
Afterwards, the officials took part in some training that touched on health and fitness, VAR and assistive technologies, and decision-making.
The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 will kick off on November 20, with host nation Qatar taking on Ecuador.
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