AFC Unveils 76 Referees for Asian Cup Next January, Including 7 South Koreans

Seven South Korean referees will participate in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup, which kicks off in Saudi Arabia next January.

The AFC announced a list of 76 referees through its official website, including 24 main referees, 41 assistant referees, and 11 video match officials (VMOs) for the 2027 Asian Cup.

This Asian Cup will be held from January 7 to February 5, 2027, across eight stadiums in three cities, including Riyadh, Jeddah, and Al Khobar, with a total of 24 teams participating.

The AFC explained, "The final list of referees was finalized through a rigorous evaluation process conducted over a period of three years from 2023 to 2026," adding, "Evaluations were based on performances in FIFA and AFC tournaments, as well as top-tier domestic leagues, regional, and international competitions."

Representing South Korea, seven referees will take part.

Choi Hyunjae, Kim Jong-hyeok, and Kim Yoo-jung will serve as main referees, while Chun Jin-hee, Jang Jong-pil, and Park Kyun-yong will serve as assistant referees, and Kim Woo-sung will serve as a VMO.

In particular, Referee Kim Yoo-jung, who officiated the 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup final, is the sole female among the 76 selected referees.

Additionally, as part of a cooperation between the AFC and the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), four UEFA-affiliated referees (one main referee, two assistant referees, and one VMO) have joined.

AFC-affiliated referees are scheduled to participate in the UEFA Euro 2028 for the first time in history.

(Photo courtesy of Korea Football Association, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.