The World Cup is now in full swing, with 48 teams competing in the hunt for football's biggest prize. Some of the game's biggest names have converged on North America, with there likely to be no shortage of action over the next few weeks.
Top Referees Selected for the Tournament
As well as the best players, the competition is also a platform for the very best referees from each confederation to take part in one of the biggest showpieces in global sport. In total, 52 referees were named on the roster of officials for the tournament, although Somalia's Omar Artan has subsequently pulled out after being denied entry into the United States.
Base Pay and Bonuses
Artan is still set to receive his fee for the tournament, which is the base rate handed out to all officials over the course of the six weeks following their arrival at the tournament base in Miami. The exact figure on that sum hasn't yet been disclosed, but the baseline figure is reportedly roughly double what officials were paid over a decade ago at the World Cup 2014 in Brazil.
Leading officials could earn even more depending on whether they are kept on for the latter stages of the tournament. Indeed, should a referee be handed the chance to officiate up to the final next month, they will bank a total of £75,000, according to The Sun.
Conditions for Final Match
However, should a referee make it to the final game in New Jersey, it would be on the proviso that their own country didn't get there. For example, English referees Michael Oliver and Anthony Taylor would only have a chance of being in the middle for the final if England didn't make it there.
Other Officials and VAR
Some 88 assistant referees and 30 VAR officials have also been chosen. Premier League official Jared Gillett will be among those on VAR duties throughout the tournament.
Comparison with Premier League Salaries
To put the possible sum into context, the average salary for a Premier League referee, including bonuses and match fees, is between £170,000 and £180,000. That includes a base salary of up to £148,000 depending on their experience, with performance-based bonuses and match fees on top. Even the most junior Premier League officials reportedly earn around £125,000.
