Sports07 August, 20263 min read
Riiohlang Dhar Selected As Assistant Referee For FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup 2026 In Poland
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Riiohlang Dhar appointed as assistant referee for FIFA U-20 WWC 2026 in Poland. AIFF confirmed selection following a rigorous national selection process.
Dhar appointed in Poland
Indian referee Riiohlang Dhar has been officially selected as an assistant referee for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup 2026 in Poland, with the All India Football Federation (AIFF) confirming the appointment. The tournament is scheduled to kick off in Poland this September, and the Sportscape Magazine profile says Dhar is a 36-year-old trailblazer from Meghalaya who will be “looking forward to the challenge and will give my very best in every match.” Sportscape Magazine also links the selection to Dhar’s previous officiating at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2024 in the Dominican Republic, where she officiated the semi-final clash between Spain and England.
The same profile says Dhar balances international assignments with service in the Meghalaya Police department, framing the appointment as a second World Cup selection for the referee. In parallel, ESPN reports that United Stateswomen’s national team head coach Emma Hayes called the U-20 event “the biggest platform for young players to play in,” and said she and her staff will be watching and scouting next month’s U-20 World Cup in person.
FIFA power struggle deepens
While Dhar’s appointment points to the tournament’s sporting focus, Sky Sports describes a FIFA dispute in which a players union slams FIFA for “abuse of presidential power” as UEFA doubles down on a boycott. Sky Sports says the “magic number is 106,” explaining that if Infantino continues to refuse to resign, his survival would depend on a numbers game at a potential Emergency FIFA Congress Friday 7 August 2026 13:01, with a vote of no confidence requiring a majority of 106 votes. The same Sky Sports report says UEFA reiterates its threatened boycott and again demands Infantino’s resignation, while it also notes South American governing body CONMEBOL condemning FIFA’s disregard for its own principles with the line: “When football loses, we all lose.”
Goal reports that UEFA’s stance remains tied to conditions, quoting a UEFA spokesperson to Sky News: “These conditions have not been met,” and adding that UEFA has lost confidence in Gianni Infantino’s presidency. Goal also says Infantino and FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafstrom issued a joint letter attempting to de-escalate the situation, with FIFA’s senior leadership writing: “We sincerely apologise for these errors and commit to them not happening again.”
Boycott stakes for U20
The dispute’s immediate impact centers on the Women’s U20 World Cup, with BBC reporting that France said it is still planning to compete despite a threat from Uefa to boycott Fifa competitions. BBC states that “For now, France will be participating to the Fifa U20 Women’s World Cup,” and it lists six European teams scheduled to play in the tournament: England, France, Italy, Portugal, Spain and hosts Poland. BBC also quotes England defender Lucy Bronze saying a UEFA boycott of FIFA competitions would be the “right thing” for the future of the game, adding: “And if that means boycotting competitions, then that has to happen.”
“I am massively worried about the direction for and the lack of all of those experiences for American players.”
ESPN frames the stakes from a development angle, with Hayes telling ESPN that she is “massively worried about the direction for and the lack of all of those experiences for American players,” and arguing that FIFA should make U-20 World Cups part of the international match calendar as mandatory release dates. In the Sky Sports account of the FIFA standoff, it notes that UEFA’s boycott threat is being tested by the tournament schedule, with the report pointing to the Emergency FIFA Congress and the “magic number” as the mechanism that could decide Infantino’s position before the next steps in governance.